S AD H U S U N DA R S I N G H

MY DEAR . H US B AN D
W HO T HRO U G H T HI R T Y Y E ARS

M E FA I T HFUL
‘

TO T HE B E S T T HI N G S

O F LI FE .
 FO R EWO RD

Tm s little bo o k wa s o ri g in te n ded for the use

i n a lly
of Ch ri sti a n wo m en of the Ma la ya la m cou n try but the,

w riter h a s bee n persu a ded to issue an E n glish e di t ion .

N e a rl y the whole of t he m a tt er h a s be e n th e subj ect

o f co n v ers a t io n s wi t h th e S adhu hi mself wi t h whom we
,

h a ve e nj o y ed much i n spiri n g co mpa n io n s h ip a n d wi th

w hose permissio n the book is issu e d .

This word picture o f a true serv a nt of t h e Grea t

M a ster should be a n inspirat io n to a ll Chris t i a n me n a n d
women i n Indi a a n d it d o es n ot seem t oo much t o hop e
,

t h a t I n di a n s of a ll cl a sses will see h o w t rul y Jesus

Christ c a n m a n ifest Himse lf i n an d through t he people
o f this gre a t l a n d
’
,
a n d how wort h y He is to be I n di a s

Lord a n d S a viour .

A RTHU R PAR KE R .

Lo n do n M i ssi o n Tri vcmdra m

, .
 A LETTER FR OM S AD H U S UNDAR S I NGH

(W RI TTE N IN R O M A N -UR D U )

Jab m a i n is c hh o th i ki tab ka MSS dekh ra h é. tha to

yih bat sa fai so dek hn e men an ki Kh u d a ki R uh ne k a ise
a j ib ta u r se Mrs R J Pa rk er ki m a d a d
. . . au r hidaya t ki ki
,

sari bat e n ba ga ir kisi ga l ati ki li kbi n au r mu j he ya qi n h a i , ,

ki m u san n if ki mi hn at K huda ke j a lal a u r ba h u to n kc

ru ba n i fa ida ki ba is hogi A u r u n ko m a da d mi leg i j o
.

mu shk i lat me n h a i n j i s tara h ki m a i n t ha a u r khass

, ,

ka r v ih malum k a rk e ki Kh u d aW a n d ki s ta rah m u j he
, ,

j ai se ba re g u n ahg ar ko ba cha kar apn i mu h a bb at a u r

fa zl se a
p n i kh i dm at ke li ye eh u n le ta h ai . Aj ma i n
sh u ka rg u z ari ke sa th a
p n e taj ru ba 1 3 ba ra s kc experie n ce
ka hsa k ta h i i n ki M as ih aj kal h a mesh a ya ksa n
’

se au r

hai (Hebrews xiii .

Meri dua h a i ki Kh uda i n cha n d baton ke a uro n ki

ru han i ma da d a u r a n i j a lal ke l iy e i sti am al ka re Am i n
p . .

(S igned ) S UN D AR SI N GH .

S ep tember 3 , 1 9 18 .
TRAN S LATI O N

Wh e n I sa w the ma n u scrip t of this little book I saw

cle arl y i n w ha t a wo n derful wa y the spirit of God h a d
h elped a n d gu ided Mrs R J Pa rker so th a t she h ad
. . .

wri tte n i t wi th ou t an y mista ke a n d I a m certa i n th a t

,

th e a utho r s work will be fo r t h e glory of Go d a n d a

’

mea ns of spi ri tu al ben efit to m an y A lso t h a t th ose who

.

a re i n th e mids t o f diffi cul t ies suc h as I wa s wi ll receive ,

h elp a n d esp ec i a ll y will l e a rn how th e Lord sa ved so

,

grea t a si nn er a s myself an d by His love an d gra ce c hose

,

me fo r His service .

To -d ay I c an sa y wi th t ha n kful n ess af te r th irt ee n

y ea rs of experie n ce tha t C h ris t is the sa m e y esterd a y ,
an d to -d ay a n d fo r ever (Heb rew s xiii
, .

My pray er is tha t God will use th ese few words for

Hi s glory a n d fo r th e spi ritu a l h elp o f o th ers A me n . .

(S ign ed ) S U N D AR S I N GH .

S ep tember 3 , 1 9 1 8 .
H AS T thou heard H im s een Hi m k no wn Hi m
, , ,

I s not thine a c a ptu red hea rt

C hie f among ten thous an d o w n H im ,

J oyfu l c hoose the be tte r p a rt .

Wh at h as s t ri pp ed the seemin g be auty

F ro m th e i d ols o f the ea rth "
N o t a s e n se o f ri g ht o r d ut y ,

B ut the s i g ht o f p ee rl e ss w o rth .

No t the c ru shing o f those i d ols ,

W i th i ts bitte r v oi d a n d sma rt
B ut the beaming o f Hi s be auty ,

The un v ei l ing o f H is heart "

T i s th a t l oo k th at m e l te d Pet e r
’
,

T i s that fac e th a t S te ph e n s aw
’
,

T i s th at hea rt th a t wept w i th M ary

’

Ca n a l one from i d ols draw .

D ra w an d win com pl etel y

a nd fi ll ,

T i ll the cu p o erflo w the br im

’

Wh at h a v e we to d o w ith i d o ls
W h o h a v e com p anied w ith Hi m
 CO N T EN TS
P AG E
I N TRO D U C TI ON
I .
- SA D n U AN D S A NY A S I

II .
- S UN D A R S I N G H As SA D HU

I II .
— S UN D A R T HE MA N
IV . N A T1 0 N A L1 T Y
- A N D B I RT H
V .
—CA LLE D TO S E E K

VL —CALLED o r GO D

V I I -C A LLE D
.
To S U FFE R —I
V I I I —CA LLE D
.
To S U FF E R —I I

I x — C A LLE D
. TO S E R V E

X .
To P R EA C H
XI .
—
W nA r
'
W I S D O M i s T H IS

X I I —EA R LY E X P E R I E N C E S
.
As A S A D m:

X I I I — O B E D I E N CE
.
BY S U FF E R I N G

XI V .
—
Tn a FA S T
XV .
- Fu RT n E R Jo URN E v s AN D Pa ns a
’
r mN s

X V I — Ti a n r .

X\ l I
'

.
- S UN D A R iN T I B E T— I
K VIII .
—S LNDAR '
iN T r a m — II

X IX .
- Fl
'

RT HE R E X P E R I EN C E S i N T I B ET
XX .
- MA RT Y R s o r T m ; PA rr n
X X L— S U N D A R
’
S M r sr i e i s m
XX I I .
~ —T m : S A D n U ’
S LO V E FO R T HE C Ro ss

Xx l l l .
—S U N D A R S i Nc n AN D T HE S A N Y AS I Mi s s
xi i

XXI V —S UN DAR
. S I N O II AN D THE MA R AR I S R I o r KA I LAS H
XXV —S AD R U S u N D A a S I N G II
. IN S OUT R I N D I A

XXV I .
—S A D II U S UN DAR S I NOR AT A GR EA T C H RI S TI A N
CO NV E NTI O N
XX VI I —CEY1 O N
. .

XX VI I I . U N ro Ti m UTTERM OS T P ARTS o r THE EA RT H

'

XXI X . CALLE D C H O S E N FA I T HFUL

, ,

XXX . C H RI S T S E NT M E To Pw e u Tm: GO S PEL

Tai : ME S S A G E O F T HE B OO K
t '
 SA D HU S UNDA R S ING H

C A LLED O F G OD

IN TR O D UCTIO N

FE B R UARY , 1 9 1 8 , is t i me t h at will li n ger i n t he memory

a

o f C h ris t i a n s of all de n o mi n a tio n s i n Tri v a n d ram fo r

,

the visi t o f S ad h u S u n d ar S i n gh wa s a n u n precede n ted

e ve nt t h a t brough t to m any profou n d spiri tu a l blessi ng .

O ne of o u r missio n a ries ri ght ly s aid , S uch a figure ha s

n ev e r pa ss ed through t he I n di a n Chur c h b efore an d i n

pa ssi n g he left th e deep co n scious ne ss t h a t G od h a d

‘
visi ted His people .

Th e fa me of th e S adhu had preced ed him for a few ,

had re ad th e books published a bo ut h is life a n d wo rk ,

a n d of t hese s o me l oo k ed for a d a y o f m ira cles to d a w n .

Most h oweve r were fi lled wit h desire to see an d he a r

, ,

him th a t they migh t receive t he spiri t ua l bl essi n gs

xi v I NT R OD U CT I ON

th e y believed possible from hi s m i n i strv Th a t G o d .

did n o t dis a ppoi n t these hopes there a re numbers to d a v -

w h o could gi v e j oyful testimo n y .

As t he
tra in bringing S adhu S und a r S ingh to
Tri v a n d ra m drew into the st a tio n be s ides the missio n
,

ar
y a group o f Indi a n Chri s ti a ns s to o d re a d v to a cc ord
,

a welcome to him ; a n d upon a rri v a l a t th e Mi ss io n

House a crowd ha d ga thered for the sa me purpose a n d ,

would h a rdl y be pe rsu aded to di s pers e i n order to a l l o w

th e S adhu t o get a wa s h a n d some food .

A Wesley a n missio n a ry t hus describes t he a ppea ra n ce

of the S é d h u : The S adhu h a s a noble pre s ence He .

is t a ll with a well-sh a ped hea d a n d fine fea tures

,
.

His h a nds an d fee t a re delic a t el y formed a n d e x quisitel y

kep t He is scru pulousl y clea n i n perso n a n d a ttire
. .

The o n l y dre ss h e we a rs is t h e lo n g ora nge robe of t he

a sce tic which fa lls i n gra ceful a n d dign ifi ed fo l ds a bout
,

h is bod y No o n e c a n look upo n h i m fo r t he first time

.

withou t bei n g struck by his close like n ess t o the tra di

ti o n al po rtra i t of Chris t .

There a re m a n y t hi n gs i n t his O ld l a n d th a t gi v e a
fresh u n dersta n di n g of the Bible bu t n o ma n of mv
,

experie n ce h a s m ad e us rea lize so fully h o w our S a v iour

li v ed a n d moved a bo u t i n His d ay D uri n g his vi s it to
.

Tri v an d ra m whe n ever S adhu S und a r S i n gh a ppe a red i n

,

public wo n dering crowds followed him E v e n th e

,
.

c hildre n gat he red behi n d him tha t they m ight touch

his yellow ro be an d t he si c k were brought th a t he
,

might pra y w ith them It is a lmo st impossib l e to

.
 I NT R OD U CT I O N xv

co n v i n ce the p eople th a t he does n ot he a l th e sick e v e n

,

w he n the a ssura nce comes from his o w n lips .

At o n e o f his meeti n gs a p at h etic i n cide n t occu rred

th a t brought vividl y to mi n d how o u r Lo rd wa s sough t .

It wa s a t a l a rge ope n -a i r meeting S ome men a ppea red

.

c a rryi n g a s ic k ma n o n a bed They p l a c ed it gentl y

.

upo n the ground i n a pl a ce where the a ffl ict ed m a n

could behold the fa ce a n d hea r th e words of the S adhu .

He wa s a Christia n from a v i ll a ge se v e n mi l es a wa y ,

a n d h ad bee n brought i n overnight so a s to be present

a t this gre a t ga thering .

Th a t very n ight a nother inciden t took pl a ce th a t

remi n ded us of the visit of N icodemus to o u r S a viour .

At two o c lock w hen a ll the w orld wa s locked i n sleep

’
, ,

a low ra ppi n g a t t he door a n n ounced the a rri v a l o f a

mid n ight gues t A c a ste m a n desirous o f discussing

.

religious m a tters h ad come to se e him W he n expl a i n .

i n g th a t h e h a d felt a sh a med to come i n th e da ylight

the S a d hu replied Jesus Christ was no t a sh a med t o
,

suffer for yo u o n the c ro s s i n the d a y light so ca n n ot

,

o u su ffer a little fo r Him A t t h e service ne x t d a y

y
t his ge n tlema n took his c o u ra ge in both h a nds a n d ,

a ppea red a mo n gst th e crowd o f Christi a n s to lis te n to

th e s adhu prea ching .

brought fresh v isio n s of God a n d

S u n d a r S i n gh h as
Christ to us a ll a n d m a ny of us rea l i z e h o w by c l ose
,

fel l owship with J esus a n d comp l ete obedience to His

,

will he ha s become so c onformed to his Lord tha t

,

where v er he g oes peo p l e say Ho w like Chri s t he is "

,
 I NT R OD U CT IO N

To see a n d h ea r hi m m a kes o n e s h ea rt be at high

’

’
wi th hope for I n di a s fu t ure a n d wi t h co n fide n ce th at
,

th e d ay will c o m e whe n t he c ast wi ll ha ve so me n ew

a spect of our Sa v iour to dis c over t o For
t hirty y ea rs we ha ve w a i t ed fo r me n to rise up who c a n
rea ch the he a rt o f I n di a a n d surel y n o n e h as come n ea re r
,

to doing this tha n t his h umble lover o f t h e Cross Sad h u

'

S u n d a r S i n gh
.
2 S AD H U S UND A R S IN G H

A sad h u , h owever, e a rl y i n life re n ou n ces the world an d

a ll i ts ple a sures He n ever m a rries or en ters upon

. the
ordi n a ry occupatio n s o f t he w orld .

The sadhu life is o n e of u n told possibilities o f ,

t reme n dous t empt atio n s a life tha t comm a n ds the

r espectful a tt e nt io n of I n di a for it i s a ty pe o f heroism
,

w h ich d a res t o lose the w orld a n d a ll the w orld may

offer i n its a bsolute self-a b a n do n me n t To o n e w h o .

perfectl y ca rries out t his idea l the proudest hea d i n I n di a

,

will a lwa y s bo w i n revere n ce a n d humility Both .

sa n y asi a n d sadhu a dopt t he sa ffro n robe —the time

ho n oured dress wh i c h gives them t h e freed om o f a ll
I n di a The simplici t y of th eir life is such th a t they h a ve
.

n o h ome a n d ca rry n o m o n ey a n d a mo n gst Hi n dus i t

,

is a n ac t o f religious meri t t o provide t h em wi t h shelter

From the ea rlies t d ay s t his ki n d of l i fe h a s h a d gre a t

a ttra ctio n s fo r t he pious mi n ds of I n di a and during
,

the cen turies me n h a ve volu n ta ril y sa crifi c ed the world

a n d a ll it s ta n ds for th a t b a ll kinds o f h a rdships an d
, y
self-de n ia l th ey might sa tisfy t h e deep lo n gi n gs of the
soul N umberless t imes m en o f n oble a spira tio n h a ve
.

by t h is me a n s strive n t o obta i n pe a ce o f soul a n d a bso rp

t io n i n th e dei ty .

The commo n est sight i n a n y o f the h ol y cities o f I n di a

i s t h a t of o n e or m a n y sadhus pra ctisin g th e a usterities
o f t h eir chose n lot either by swinging o v er a s lo w fi re
, ,

h oldin g up t he right a rm u nt il it h a s s ti ffened a n d th e

n a i l s h a v e gro w n through the ba c k o f the h a nd sitti n g ,

o n a bed of sp ikes o r under a vow o f silence in medit a

,

tion o n the ba nks of some s a cred strea m Un fortun a tel y .

t h is ki n d of life h a s bee n subj ect to the m o st terrible

a buse a n d there is sc a rcel
, y a more disgusti n g sight in
t he world t ha n the filth y be gga r who do nn i n g the sa ffro n
,

ro be pa sses from house to house terrori z i n g t he ign ora n t

,
 SAD H U A ND S A N YA S I 8

i n h abi ta nt s a n d cursi n g them w h e n he c ann ot wri n g

,

from their u n willi n g h a n ds t he gift s he a sks .

T h e ordi n a ry wi n ter visitor to Indi a c a n n ot bu t be .

impressed by the n umerous sign s he s ees i n a ll th e hol y

pl a ces he pa sses t h ro ugh t h a t m a n y I n di a n s a re seek
,
“
i n g God if h a pl y they might feel a fter Him a n d fi n d
,
”
Him . A n d whilst the sight of n u i n berle ss fil t h y fa kirs
a wa ke n s a se n se o f disg us t an d repulsio n surel y n o ,

Chris t i a n m a n c a n see the s elf-t o rture of m a n y s a n yasis

wi t hout a deep y e a rn i n g to dis c o ver t o t hem t h e gre a t
secret o f the pea ce t hey so a rduousl y s t rive t o fi n d .

I n I n di a l ife c an be lived a t i t s simplest The .

clim at e e na bles me n t o do wi t h li tt le clothi n g an d t o live ,

l a rgel y a n o u t-o f-door life Except w h ere t he s t re a m o f

.

western life h a s t urn ed me n a side t o gre a t er luxury the ,

I n di a n s t ill feels sa t isfied w ith a simple die t a n d life .

He n ce t hrough t h e ce nt uries as e a rn est souls h a ve go n e

,

i n quest of higher spiritu a l thi n gs it is n ot surprisi n g ,

th a t th ey h a ve chose n t he simplest po ssible life a n d ,

a dded to its h a rdships by self-imposed a usterities .

To people of w est ern n a tions with their h a rder clim a t e,

and differe n t customs such simplici ty is impossible

, ,

a n d to m a n y e v e n di ffi cult to understa n d Th e true .

sadhu does n o t retire to a mon a stery w here food a n d

shelter a re a ssure d He w a n ders homeless from pl a ce
.

t o pl a ce possess es o n l y the me a gre clothes h e w e ars

, ,

an d is utterl y des t i t ute .

D r F a rquh a r i n h is Cro wn of Hi n du i sm s a y s
.
, ,

As l on g as the w orld l asts men wi ll l oo k back with won de r

on the asceti cs o f In d i a T hei r quiet s u rren d e r o f e v e ry
.

ea rth l y pr i v i l eg e a n d thei r st rong en d u r a nce o f m a ny forms

,

o f su ffe r in g wi ll be a n ins p i r a tion to all g ene r ations o f thi n k i n g

Ind i ans Fo r nea rl y th ree thous a n d yea rs th e as ceti cs o f
.

Ind i a h a v e stood forth a s p ea k ing testimony to the su premac y

,

o f the s p i ri tu a l .
4 S AD H U S UND AR S INGH

Th e idea l is a grea t o n e Ch rist ia ni ze t his idea l

. .
,

m a ke i t a re n u n ci at io n for t h e sa k e of o th ers tha t

,

rem a in i n g i n th e w o rld bu t n o t of i t a ma n sha l l

“

e n dure a ll th i ngs In a n u n t iri ng s ea rc h for o the r

a n d we h ave t h e n obles t life on ea rth
.
 CHA P TER I I

S U N D AR S I N GH As SAD H U

The Chri sti a n P atri o t, a Ma dra s pa per rece nt ly publi shed

,

t he followi n g
Sad h u S un d ar S i ng h i s the em bod i ment o f an i d ea runnin g
in the v eins o f e v e ry In d i an an d in he ri te d by him from the
,

d i s ta nt pa st S ta n d in g befo re men as th e homel ess S adh u

.
,

not k now ing where h i s ne xt mea l w i ll come from with out ,

w o rldl y g oods he r eca ll s to men s min d s i n thes e d a ys the

’
,

g rea t i d ea l o f r enu n ci ation .

Bu t i n th is ca se t he i d e al i s realized i n perfecti on si n ce
’
,

n o t for his o w n so n] bu t fo r the souls of oth e rs h e

, ,

coun ts a ll t h i n gs bu t loss a n d his gre at ren u n ci at io n ,

e n ta ili n g u n to ld ha rdship priva tion suffering a n d per

, , ,

sec u ti o n ,
is his d a ily offeri n g to t he S a viour who ga v e
His life for him .

Obe yi n g the w ishes o f his dea d a n d grea t l y loved

mother S u n d a r u nfli n c hing ly fa ced th e an ger of h is
,
-

Hi n du rel a tives the ridi c ule o f his Christ i a n brethre n

, ,

a n d eve n the mild hosti lit

y of his Europe a n frie n ds a n d ,

beca me a Christi a n S é d h u Thi rt y -three d a y s a fter his

.

ba ptism w hen o nl y a bo y of si x teen he took this step i n

, ,

the firm belief th at God h a d c a ll ed him to this pa rticul ar

ki n d of life a n d w ork S i n ce th a t d a y he ha s n ever
.

c e a sed to i n terpre t the life o f Him who had n ot where

to la y His hea d to Indi a n s who h a ve b ee n taugh t to
6 S AD H U S UN D A R S I N GH

revere a hol y life of self-de n i a l Thus does h e comme n d

.

to his cou n tryme n i n tru l y e a ster n m a nn er the grea t

thi n gs for w hich the S aviour ga ve His li fe This n ew .

met hod o f prea chi n g C h ri s t h as la id th e S adh u O pe n to

a co n sidera ble a mount of criticism i n t h e pa st but i n ,

th e form of a p a ra ble he expl a i n s th a t a Hi n du wi ll n ot

dri n k w a ter from a foreign vessel eve n w he n dyi n g of
thirs t but if th a t sa me wa ter h e offered to hi m i n his
,

own bras s vessel he will a ccept i t .

It m ay be t h a t the time h as come w he n I n di a n

Chri s ti a n s must ve n ture upon n ew forms of spiritu a l
e nterprise for t hey k n ow th e n eeds of t h eir own cou nt ry
,

me n ha ve received th e sa me tradi t io n s a nd ha ve the

, ,
’
sa me outlook o n life Bey o n d questi o n the S adhu s n ew
.

ve nt ure h a s brought u ntold blessi n g to m a n y thousa n ds

a l l over this gre a t l a n d of Indi a .

B y a dopt i ng the reco g n ized dress of t h e sadhu S u n d a r ,

S i n gh n o t o n l y opens the d oo r to a ll ca s t es a n d cl a sses

o f socie t y, but a lso eve n t o t he sa cred preci n c t s of the
za n a na homes of I n dia w here on v a rious occa sio n s
,

h e h as ha d u n ique opportu n i ties o f spe a ki n g fer h is Lord

to t he grea t l a dies of the la n d His own words a re
.

T he d a y I bec ame a S ad hu I was w edd ed to these g arments ,

a n d I w i ll ne v e r d i v orce the m o f m y o wn wi l l .

He h as freque nt l y bee n a sked ho w lo n g he mea n s to

co nti n ue t h is life of self-a bnega tio n to whi ch he replies
,

As l ong as I am i n t hi s wo rld I h a v e v o w ed my l i fe to
,

Hi m an d His g ra c e a bi di ng I sh a ll ne v er brea k my v o w
, ,
.

N e v er lo n g i n o n e
pl a ce h e w a nders o v er the le n gth
,

a n d bre adth of I n di a meet i n g with a ll sorts a n d co n di

,

tions of me n sufferi n g the ch a n ges o f c l im a te from the

,

ste a m y tropic a l hea t of Tra va n core a n d Cey lo n to the

i c y cold of Tibe t .W ithout kn o w ledge o f h o w food or
rai ment or lod g i n g sh a ll be provided from d a y to d a y ,
 S UN D A R S I N GH AS SA D H U

c a rryi n g n o mo n ey or world l y possessio n s S adhu S u n da r

,

S i n gh continues h is pi l gri ma ge i n th e ser v ice of his

fello w me n a n d to the glory o f his M a ster Ch ris t I n cold .

or hea t he w ea rs the sa me clot hes a n d e v e n i n the bitter

,

cold of fa rthest Tibet he wea rs n o shoes fo r by his ,

”
bleeding feet he a ttra cts me n to Christ W here v er he
.

goes he c a rries a sm a l l c opy of the N e w Testa me n t in

'

U rdu w hich w ith the he l p of n a ture a n d his o w n experi

,

e n ce is a ll he needs t o enforce his powerful tea chi ng .

I n his book The M a n ho o d of the M aster D r Fosdick

, , .

sa y s t h a t J esus mus t h a v e bee n t h e most ra di a nt Man

”
of Hi s t ime i n Pa les t i n e Looki n g at S adh u S u n d a r
.

S i n gh i t is e a s y to re al ize t his for to h i m sufferi n g fo r

,

Chri st is a rea l j o y a n d his fa ce is expressive of t h e deep

,

pea ce a n d a bo u n ding j o y he h a s i n his dea re s t S a viour ,

C h rist D uri n g fourt ee n yea rs o f sadhu life S u n d a r

.

S i n gh h as k n ow n a ll m a nn er of tri a ls an d endured much

,

su fferi n g a n d persecutio n Like his gre at predecessor

.

Pau l h e ha s bee n
,
tro ubled o n e v ery side pe r
p l e x e d bu t n,
o t i n des pa ir persecuted but n ot forsa ke n

ca s t dow n bu t n ot destroy ed ; a lwa y s be a ri n g a bout i n

t h e b od y the d ying o f t he Lo rd Jesus th a t the life ,

a lso o f J esus ma y be m a de m a n ifes t i n his bod y (2 Cor .

iv 7
.
 C HA P TER III

S U ND A R THE MA N

A W E S TE RN mission a ry who ha s lo ved I n dia

a lo n g life m a
y perha ps be pa rdo n ed for writi n g this
ch a pter E v er si n ce mee ti n g S u n d a r S ingh the question
.

a s t o th e gre a t differe n ce be t wee n him a n d m o s t ot h er

’
Christi a n s an d a lso th e s adhu s u n usu a l power o f
,

dra wi n g men to C h ri st h as bee n u ppe rmo s t i n hi s mi nd

, .

A bsolute loss of a ll t h i n gs an d a n e nt ire submissi on t o

th e wi ll o f Christ toget her wi t h a profoun d e n thra lli n g
love fo r his S a v iour gives at le a s t a pa rt i a l a n swer to
the problem .

I n I n dia a s i n our Lo rd s d a y to t he poo r t he Gospel

’

”
pre a ch ed a n d ha s fou n d a cc ep ta n ce a n d brought to
, ,

m a n y t housa n ds a bett er l ife a n d a freer heri ta ge I n .

some ca se s t here is t roubl e a n d loss an d eve n persec u

tion but t h e ca ses a re few a n d fa r betwee n where a bsolut e
,

loss of a ll things is the price o f followi n g Chri st .

But a s w ill be see n i n a succeedi n g c h apter t he

, ,

c o n versio n o f S und a r to C hri st brought w ith it n ot o n l y

th e loss of a ll thi n gs bu t grea t persecu t io n an d h a rdship .

All he go t by becom i ng a C h ris ti a n wa s C h ris t ; an d

t his i n comp a ra ble gift swa mped ev eryth i n g else so
fi
,

th at si n c e tha t t ime i t h a s be en an ecsta sy o f d e ligh t to

him to suffe r wi th an d fo r his M a s ter Wh e n m ore o f.

I n di a s so n s a ccept t he Sa viour i n th is sp i ri t the

’
.
,

Christi a n Church i n t his la n d will en ter i n to her ri gh t ful

10 S AD H U S UND A R S IN G H

I n The Go a l of I n di a th e Rev W E 8 Hollan d s ay s

. . . .

Indi a is the s p i ritu al mot her o f h al f man k in d No .

boo k th at sets out to un v e i l fo r oth er p eo pl es the hea rt o f

Ind i a cou ld p ut a nything el se bu t re l ig i on in the v ery for e
front . T o the In d i an th at i s all th at r ea ll y m atters
nothin g e l se c an e v er s atis fy his sou l The cl im ax o f .

In d i a s rel ig ious i d ea l h as e v er been renunc i ation T here is

’
.

someth i n g o f the m ag n i fi c ent in the sadhu s m easu rel ess ’

contemp t fo r su ffe ri n g an d h ardshi p . Ch ri st wi ll r ed ee m

Indi a s an c ient i d ea l : In d i a needs to see Ch ri st as w ell as
’

hea r a bou t Hi m . I n d i a needs the s i m pl e C h ri sti an wh o ,

in a l i fe o f g ent l eness an d p at i ence o f l ow l y l o v e an d humbl e

,

se rv i ce w ill un v ei l to her the bea uty o f Ch ri st

, .

’
Herei n lies o n e grea t se c ret of S adhu S u n d a r S i n gh s
power o v er me n w herever he go es Ta k i n g t he old idea l
.
‘

of re n u n ci a tio n h e h as spiritua lized i t a n d men see i n ,

h im a reflec t io n o f t he grea t re n un ci a t io n of Chris t Him

self— n o t seeki n g sufferi n g fo r sufferi n g s o w n sa ke as ’
,

is t h e ca se wi t h Hi n du asce t icism bu t en duri n g i t wi th

,

c h eerful a c c ep ta n ce as bei n g t he will o f God fo r him .

I n t he words o f K es ha b Cha n dra S en

B eho ld Ch r ist cometh to u s as an A si ati c to ful fi l an d
pe r fect th at r el i g ion o f c ommu n ion fo r whi c h I n di a h as been
p a nting — y ea a fte r l ong centu ri es sh a ll th i s commu n ion be
,

p er fect ed in C h ri st .

S adhu S u n d a r S i n gh
i n h imse lf remi n ds m en of th is
be yo n d hi m th ey Behold th e
gre a t fa ct , a n d l oo ki n g
”
Man who for o u r sa kes beca me p oo r .

Can o n e wo n der th a t whe n ever he ma kes his public

a ppea ra n ces l a rge crowds ga t her to h ea r h im " I n dia
must be w o n fo r Chris t by her o wn so n s a n d i n S u n d a r ,

S ingh w e see a m a n w h ose a ppe a l goes stra ight t o the

hea rt of a n I n di a n be he Christi a n or o t herwi se His
, .

a ppe a ra n ce his u tter self-a b n ega tio n an d po verty h is

, ,

prese n ta tion of the Gospel messa g e eve n the m a nn er of ,

his co n versio n combi n e t o m a ke th a t a ppea l i rresis t ibl e

 S UN D A R THE MAN 11

to th e people of I n di a The y iu n ders ta n d a n d believe i n

.

such a m an Thu s th is so n o f I n di a po ssesses a key t o

.

t h e hearts o f his cou nt ryme n n o foreign er c a n ever h ope

t o h a ve howe ve r grea t h is love fo r I n di a an d he r people
,

ma y be .

A n I n di a n ge nt lem a n t hus spe aks of h im

A t a ll y ou n g m a n i n fl ow in g tog a an d a short bl ack bea rd
d e l i v e ri ng h i s messag e wi th the fi re o f a prophet an d th e
p ower o f a n a p ost l e " As the sw eet wor ds fl ow ed from h i s
l i ps the S a d hu stoo d before u s as a sym bo l o f the s p i ri tu a l
c ul tu r e o f the East set ag l ow in the res pl en d ent l ig h t o f the
Gos p e l.

Wh ilst an A meric a n a dds

Th e bea ut y th at he d a i l y g a z es u p on d raws the d ee p soul s
o f In d i a wh o h a v e not y et be he ld i t , bu t ha v e seen it in hi m .

Hi s l i fe i s his p ower , a n d th at li fe h as to be li v ed to mak e

th at power fe l t .

Th e Yo u ng M en of I n di a fo r J ul y , 1 91 8, publis he s the
followi ng
It is a l most an i m p oss ibl e tas k to p resent an y app reci ation
o f him (the S adh u ) i n w ord s H e is a man wh o h as ta k en
.

u p the li fe o f a S ad hu be c a use he be l ie v es th at G o d h as c al l e d
hi m to this method o f l abou r fo r Hi m He utterl y di sowns
.

the i d ea tha t in th e l i fe o f the sti t there i s an y i n tri nsi c

an d s p ec i a l ho l ines s
. His ad dr esses l i k e hi s personal ity
, ,

are r adi ant with a c a l m d ee p an d g l owi ng fa ith i n Go d

, ,

an d it is i m p ossi bl e to be in hi s compa ny wi thout rea li zi ng

th at he i s one to w hom Go d i s a fami l i ar frien d .

con v eys the messag e which 18 the h ea rt o f hi s o wn li fe th rou g h

addr es ses fil l ed wi th v i v i d an d often p i qu a nt i ll u strations
d rawn fro m his own e xp erience an d he p resses home
h i s p oi nts wi th u n fo rg et able simi l es and i l l ust ra tion s It i s .

a fortunate thi n g fo r the In d i a n C hurc h th a t the fi rst m an

w ho h as become wi d el y k now n as a Christi a n S ad hu shoul d

be one o f suc h s i m pl e hum bl e fa ith and so p urel y a C hris tia n
,

Th e S adhu is n o t emo t io na l or f a n a ti cal . Every g ift

12 S A D HU S UN D A R S IN G H

he po sse ss es h e a sc ri bes to Ch ris t an d t o Chri st a l on e

, .

He belo n gs t o n o sect a n d is n o t a member of an y

order I n hims elf h e ca lls I n di a n s ba ck to s1mpli c ity
.
,

self-sa c rific e a n d a pure whole-hea rted de v otio n to

,

Christ th a t seeks o n l y a fter God a n d works perpetu a ll y

,

for the souls o f me n Life to him i s o n l y of v a lue so fa r

.

as it ser v es these gre a t ends a n d st a ndi n g before me n a s

,

th e embodiment o f t hese idea ls h is a ppe a l to Indi a

irresis t ible.
 C HA P TER IV

N A TI O NA LI TY AND B ra m

S A D H U S U N D A R S I N GH is S ikh by
birth The S ikhs a re
a .
,

for va rio u s rea so n s o f peculi a r interest A risi n g fi rs t

, .

a s a religious se c t re sol v ed to reform a buses a n d to

lead me n ba ck to a si mpler purer w orship th ey ev en tu ,

a ll y devel o ped i n to a n orga n i z ed milit a ry power .

Through four ce n turies the y h a v e h a d m a n y a n d bitte r

experie n ces but prid e of ra ce lo v e of a rms a n d a s tiff
, , ,

cli n ging to their religious doctri n e s are to this d a y ,

t heir grea t cha rac teristics .

Cun n i n gh a m i n h is Hi sto ry of the S i khs s a v s

, ,

D u ri ng the si xteenth c entu r y whi ls t the Punj a b w a s a

sce ne o f en dl ess co ntention fo r po wer among st fo re ig n rac es .

the rel ig i ou s se ct o f the S i khs humbl e in i ts or ig in u n p re

, ,

ten d ing in i ts primiti v e ch a ract e r s i l entl y a rose a mi ds t the

“

tumu l t o f a rm s a n d in sp i te o f p ers ecution l a i d th e found a tion s

,

o f a g rea t st a te .

The home o f the S ikhs is The Cou n t ry of the Fi v e

R i v ers , a n d a re ma rka ble c irc umst a n ce of the po p u la

ti o n o f the Punj a b is the comp a ra ti v e p aucit y of th e

'

S ikhs in a cou n try o n ce ruled by them The S ikhs do not .

form a n umerous sect y et their stren gth is n ot to be

,

estim a ted by n umbers but by their u n ity a n d e n ergy o f

,

religious fervour a n d wa rlike tempera me n t They w i l l .

d a re an d e n dure much ; they a re not ea si lv dis c oura ged

14 S A D HU S U ND A R S IN G H

by d e fea t ; a n d they look forwa rd hopefully to the d a y

w he n the d o uble m i ssio n o f N a n a k a n d Govi n d S i n gh
sha ll become a domin a nt religio n .

S o me further a ccou n t of the S ikhs will be fou n d a t

the end o f the book a n d from it wi l l be see n some o f the
,

n ation a l a n d religious i n flue nc es u n der w hich S und a r ~

S i n gh wa s bo rn C a pta i n Cu n ningh a m sa y s
.

A S i kh chief i s not mo re di s ting uis hed by hi s st ate l y pe rson

a n d m a n l y bea ri ng th a n a minis te r o f his fa ith i s by a l o fty
thou g ht fu lness o f l oo k , whi ch m arks the fer v ou r o f hi s soul ,
an d hi s pe rsu as ion o f the nea r pres en ce o f the D ivi ni t y .

In re l ig ious fa ith an d worldl y asp i ra tion they are w holly

d i fferent from other In d i ans .

From such a s t ock spra n g S un d ar S i n gh His fa th er .

was S ird a r S her S i n gh a S i kh by desce n t a n d to t his

, ,

d a y a wea lth y la n down er i n Ra mpur i n the S ta t e of ,

Pa tia l a where o n S ep te mber 3 1 8 89 S u n d a r was bo rn ;

, , ,

the y ou n ges t so n i n th e fa mily but c alled to a higher ,

destin y th a n th em all O n e of t he fa mil y is S ird ar

.

A Na t h S i n gh comm a n der of a n I n dia n force i n on e of

.
,

t he S ikh S ta t es while o t hers h a ve risen to eve n h igher

,

dis t i n ct io n sti ll
.

A s a child S u n d a r was brough t up i n th e lap o f luxury .

E very y ea r as t he h o t wea ther drew o n he was ta ke n ,

wit h the fa mil y to spe n d the summer i n the cooler a i r

o f th e Hima l aya s u s u a ll y to S iml a
, .

H is mo t her was a re fined an d gi fted lad y ; very

broa dmin ded i n h er s ym p a thies S h e wa s o n frie n dl y .

t erms wi th the A meri c a n Presbyt eri an Missio n l adies ,

a n d perm itt ed t heir visi t s to her h ome From his ea rliest .

da ys the rel at io n shi p bet wee n S u n d a r an d his mo t her

was o f the t en dere st ch a ra c t er He was t he y ou n ges t
.

of th e famil y an d h e seld o m left h er side S h e would

, .

ofte n sa y to hi m Yo u mus t n o t be ca reless a n d worldl y

,

li ke y our broth ers Yo u mus t seek pe a ce of soul a n d

.
 NA T I ON ALI T Y A ND B IR TH 15

love religion a n d some d ay yo u must becom e a hol y

,
”
S adhu .

S o freque n tly did he he a r such w ords a s these fro m

his mot her s lips t ha t he n ever co n templ a t ed an y oth e r
’

life t h a n t h is of w hich she spoke Wh ere v er she we nt

.

h er l it t le so n a ccomp a n ied her a n d she n ever ce a se d

,

t o t ea ch h im the best thi n gs she kn ew B y the tim e he

.

was seve n y ea rs of a g e h e h ad lea rn t the Bhag ava dg i ta:

from begi nn ing to e n d i n S a n skrit A n d the n a t the a g e
.
,

o f fourtee n S u n d a r lost his de a rest e a rthl y fri e n d

, .How
he m i ss ed her ge n tle co mpa n io nship n o o n e k n ows but ,

to -d ay whe n he spea ks o f h er his voi ce gro ws t e n d e r ,

a n d he be lieves th a t w ere she a live she w o uld be s a t isfied

to see h im liv i n g an d as h e i s this

 CHA P TER V

C aru so ro SE E K

Ye sha ll see k Me and fi nd Me wh en ye sh all sea rc h fo r Me wi th

”
al l yo u r h ea rt .
-J e r
e mi a h xxi x . 18 .

I T h as ofte n been rem a rked th a t grea t me n owe muc h

to the ea rl y t ra ini n g give n by their mothers a n d i n ,

th e ca se o f S adhu S u n da r S i n gh this is especi a l l y t rue .

From his ea rliest d a y s the child n ot o n l y a ccompan ied

his mother on he r v isits to the temples but was ca reful ly
ta ught by her to rega rd religion as the supreme th i n g
i n life He sa w her revere n ce for t he hol y me n she
.

ofte n we n t to consult a n d very ea rl y i n l ife his impres

,

s i o n a ble mind sei z ed upo n the ide a th a t o f a ll li v es tha t

of a hol y S adhu wa s the best w orth livi n g .

S und a r le a rn t from his devou t mother tha t there w as

a pea c e of hea rt w hich n eeded e a r n est seeking an d ,

w hich w he n fou n d w ould be the grea test trea sure on

, ,

e a rth S o frequent l y did she spe a k o f this to hi m tha t

.

as he grew i n understa n ding the desire to ga i n t h i s

precious g ift gre w in inte n sity The little c hi l d who h a d .

rubbed his forehea d o n th e temple doo r a n d sa t a t the

fee t of Hi n du hol y me n now beg an to seek for the ,

i n ac ti ma ble tre a sure he ha d le a rn t to rega rd a s t he one

th i ng worth obta i n i ng i n the world .

Th e G ra n t h of the S ikhs the sa cred books of the ,

18 SA D H U S UN D A R S IN G H

A ga i n S u n d a r
t urn ed to h is o wn s a cred books th l S ,

t ime with a n a bhorre n c e for C h rist a n d a grea t er deter

mi n a t io n t o fi n d t he pea ce of whic h h is mo t her h a d
ta ug ht h im He n o t o n l y a rduousl y s t udied the I n di a n
.

religious s ys tems a n d h ol y books bu t also pra ctised ,

Yoga u n der a Hi n du S adhu a n d lea rn t how to t hrow ,

h imself i n to m y stic t ra n ces which brought tempo ra ry ,

relief a lthough whe n he c a me ou t of the tra n ce he wa s

,

more misera ble t h a n be fore He w as t a ke n a wa y from.

th e missio n school a n d se nt to a govern me n t sc h ool th ree

miles a w ay from h is h o me Th e d a il y l on g wa lk i n t he
.

fierce I n di a n su n s oon bega n to t ell o n h is hea l th an d ,

before lo n g i t bec a me a ppa re n t t h a t he mus t ret urn t o

th e missio n school if he w a s to fi n ish his educ atio n .

All this t ime he h ad bee n dilige nt i n his se a rch for

pe a ce an d the co n st a nt c ry o f his hea rt wa s fo r sha n ti
.

— th at comprehe n sive Hindi term th a t mea n s n ot o n l y

pe a ce bu t a full sa t isfa ct io n o f soul Bu t the more he .

lo n ged t he grea t er w a s his di sa ppo i nt me nt whe n h e

fou n d h imself growi n gl y filled with a deep soul -hu n ger
t h a t n othing w o uld s a tisfy .

B ac k i n the missio n school S u n d a r o n ce more fou n d

the Gospel i n h is h a n d a n d a ga in liste n ed to t he d a il y
,

t e a chi n g of t he Bible The n return ed upo n h im his

.

o ld h a t red o f Chri s t i a n i t y a n d the ver

,y n a me of C h rist
filled his mi n d wit h a n gry rese nt ment S o stro n g .

were h is feeli n gs a t t h a t time t h a t o n o n e occa sio n whe n ,

t he sh a dow o f a Chris ti an missio n a ry fell a cross him he ,

s pe n t a wh ole hour i n wa shi n g a w ay the pollution .

S u n d a r spe aks o f this period a s o n e of t he mos t try i n g of

his life for he h a d come to t he e n d of his o wn religio n
,

wi t hou t discoveri n g t he sha n ti he w a s i n sea rch of an d ,

his dee p roo ted h a t red of Chris t i a n i ty preve nt ed him

-

from even looki n g i nt o the C h ris t i an s acred book for

“
thi s p ea rl of g rea t pric e .
 C A LLE D or Go n

Bl essed th ey th a t h u n g er a n d th i rst a fter ri g h teo u sn ess

.

fo r th e y s h a ll be fi ll ed Matth ew v 6
.
-
. .

Co me u n to Me an d I wi ll g i v e
y o u rest — Matth ew xi 28
. . .

TH U S fa r God h ad led S u n d a r by a w ay he k n ew n ot ,

and it seemed on l y to le ad him i n to bl a cker n ight .

H a v ing studied l ine by l ine a ll the religions he k n ew ,

h a ving he a r d from the lips o f m a n y r eligious tea chers

a ll the y h a d to te l l a n d i n spite of a ll sti l l experie nc ing
,

a deeper a n d more uns a tisfied lo n ging fo r the sha n ti he

believed p o ssible S und a r was led by God to see t h a t i n

,

no n e of these things could he fi n d w h a t he sought I n .

th e silent s a nctu a ry of his o w n hea rt c a me the thought

a t l a st, th a t perh a ps in the despised book he h a d so
furiousl y destroy ed there migh t be some help a n d so he ,

y et a ga i n took the Test a ment in h a n d Torn with

‘

“
a n guish a n d dri v en to desp a ir he re a d there Come ,

unto Me an d I w i l l give y o u rest The words .

a rrested him a n d a s he co n ti n ued to re a d the stor

, y of
the c ross the wo n der grew N o longer did he j oi n w ith
.

His c l a ss -m ates i n their ope n a buse o f the Christi a n

religio n S ometimes h e wa s discovered i n qu iet e o n
.

verse with th e Christi a n te a cher E ve n tu a ll y these .

20 SAD HU S UN D A R S IN GH

th i n gs were notice d an d d u ly repo rte d to hi s p a re nts but ,

hi s fa th er t ook litt le n otice for the bo y h ad be e n well

,

grou n ded i n t h e S i kh religio n by his devout mother an d ,

Bu t the l ea ve n of th e Go spel h ad e nte re d h is hea rt ,

an d as he read , God so lov ed t he wo rld th a t He ga ve
His o nly begotte n So n , th a t whosoever believet h o n Him
”
s hou l d n o t peris h bu t h a ve everla s ti n g li fe, a whisper of
comfort ca m e to hi s s o re h ea rt But still t he burde n of
.

a n gu is h prev ente d h im fi n di n g re st At las t he felt h e

.

must pu t an end to th e st ru g gle So o ne n igh t h e m ad e

.

a firm reso l v e tha t he w o u l d ob ta i n pea c e before da w n

ei t her i n t his world or t he n ex t He k n ew t ha t a t five

.

o clock ea ch morn i n g t he Ludhi an a express p a ssed a t

’

’
t he botto m of hi s father s ga rde n a n d to e n d his misery
,

seem ed n o si n to the Hi n du bo y .

I n Hi n du fa shi on he ba th ed a n d wi th Testa men t i n

,

ha n d he ret ired to his roo m to spe n d the lo n g n igh t i n

rea di n g medi tatio n an d pra yer J ust be fore da w n
,
.

S u n d a r bec a me co n sc i ous of a bri ght clo ud filli n g t h e

room a n d i n the cloud he sa w th e radi a n t figu re a n d
,

fa ce of Chris t A s he looked upo n the visio n i t seemed

.

to hi m t h at Ch rist spoke sa y i n g W h y do yo u oppo se

,

”
Me I a m y our Sa viour I died o n the c ro ss for yo u
. .

His determi n ed e n mit y wa s broke n dow n for ever a s he

looked upon tha t F a ce so fi lled with D ivi n e love an d
pi ty a n d wi t h co n vict io n ca me a s u blime sense of
,

forgive n ess an d a ccep ta n ce wit h Christ At tha t m o m en t .

there fla shed i n to his hea rt the grea t sha nti he h ad

so ugh t so lo n g . R isi n g from his k nee s the visi o n fad ed ,

but fro m th a t hour Ch rist ha s rem a i n ed wi th hi m an d ,

sha nti h a s bee n h is de a re s t p ossessio n W it h a h ea rt .

brimm i n g over with j o y S u n d a r we nt to h is fa th er s ’

room an d to ld h im t h a t he w as a C h rist i a n Un a ble to .

be li eve tha t h is so n co uld be i n ea rnest the fath er u rg ed ,

 C A LLED OF GOD 21

h im to go to res t a n d be liev i n g a ll wa s right he fe ll

,

a sleep a ga i n
. Bu t tha t memora ble n ight th e the m
crowned Jes u s h ad ca ll ed S un d a r S i n gh to follo wi n Hi s
.

s te ps an d fro m t h at n igh t th e cross o f Jesus was to be

,

h is j o yous t heme un t il t ha t c ro ss sha ll lift

,
i nt o the

pres e n c e of his fo r evermore .

 CHA P TER VI I

A man
’
s fo es be th ey o f hi s o wn h o u seh o ld
sha ll —Matt x 3 6 . . . .

Fo r u nto yo u i t is g i v en i n th e be ha l f o f C h ri st , n o t o n l y to
be li e v e o n Hi m, bu t also to su fl er fo r His sa ke —Phi l i 29
. . . .

FO R n i n e mo nt hs fro m t h a t n ight o n wa rds S u n d a r

S i ng h was to pa ss fro m sorrow to sorrow un til he h a d ,

dru n k th e cup of suffe ri n g t o its bit t eres t dreg s for a ll ,

’
t h a t ti m e h e rem a i ne d i n his fat her s house .

Wh e n i t bec ame k n ow n th at he h a d chosen Jesus a s

h is m a s t er it seem ed to o hei n ous a thing for a n y member
,

o f h is fa mil y to believe T h a t one of their n umber

.
,

belo n gi n g as t hey did to a proud an d i n fluenti a l fa mil y ,

should dre a m o f j oi n i n g th e despised sect of t he Christ i a n s ,

n o n e could co n templ a te The fa t her w ith much e a r n est

.
,

plea d i n g a n d te n der n ess urged his so n to pu t a side

,

such degradi n g a n d foo lish t hough t s ; t o remember the

h igh est at e h e h ad bee n bo rn t o a n d t he n o ble prospects
,

th a t la y before him He u n rolled before the eyes of

.

S u n d a r visio n s of wea lth a n d ho n o u r of high po sitio n s,

a wa iti n g him but seei n g these things m a de no impres

,
'

si on h e po rtra y ed t o him t he sh a me a n d d i sg rae e th a t

,

would befa ll h is fa mil y if he persis ted i n his prese n t

cours e Th e fa ther k n ew his son s hea rt a n d the love
.
’
,

t h a t h ea rt st ill h eld fo r h is m other an d ki n dred .

 C A LLED TO S U FF E R 23

N one bu t S und a r c a n tell the t empta tions o f th a t

drea dful hour A n gui sh fil l ed his soul th a t he shoul d
.

bring reproa ch o n t hose he loved A t th a t moment .

too were sprea d before h i m the temptations a mbitions ,

a n d glitter o f the world ; a n d o n ce more he w a s to

’
feel the power of ea rth s a ttra ctio n s a n d e a rth s love ’
.

But God h a d not ca l led S unda r from despa ir a n d d a rk

ness to l et him fa ll a prey to these tempta tions It .
.

seemed to him th a t Jesus w hispered He th a t lo v eth ,

fa ther or mother more th a n Me is n ot worth y of Me ,

a n d he th a t t a keth n ot his c ro ss a n d foll o weth Me is n ot

”
worth y of Me O n l y whe n he saw his fa ther s tea rs
.
’

’
did poor S u n d a r s he a rt a lmost bre ak but eve n a s h e ,

decl a red his love for his fa ther he h ad s t rengt h gi v e n to

spea k o f a gre a ter love fo r O n e wh o h a d c a l led him to
follow Him a n d w hom he could n o t d i so beyfi S uch s c e n es
,

o f p a thos a re not to be dwelt upo n i n t he p a ges of a book .

'

A bout this time w h e n i t was ful l y rea li z ed th a t

,

S u n d a r h a d m a de up his mi n d to fo llow Christ a fresh ,

a t t empt w a s m a de t o t urn hi m a side an d to w i n him b a ck

to hi s o ld fa ith A n ho n oured uncle the possessor o f

.
,

gre a t w ea lth o n e d a y took him o ff to his la rge house

, ,

a n d led him to a deep cel l a r below the m a i n buildi n g .

Ta ki n g him inside the u n cle lo c ked the door an d S unda r

w ondered w he t her his l a st hour h a d come But ta ki n g .
,

a key ,
his u n cle stepped forwa rd a n d unlocked a l a rge
sa fe Thro w ing ope n the door there wa s revea led to
.

the bo y s e yes su c h wea lth a s he h ad n ever dre a m t of

’
.

R o lls of b a nk n otes priceless j ewels a n d qu a n tities o f

, ,

money were w h a t he sa w His u n cle t he n besough t

.
.

him n ot to disgra ce t he fa mil y n a me by becomi n g a

Christi a n a n d t aki n g his p u g g a ree from his o wn hea d he
,
’
l a id it on S u n d a r s feet as the l as t a n d humbles t suppli
,

c at io n he could m a ke with t h e words A ll these shal l

, ,
”
be yours if yo u w ill rem a i n wi t h us .
 24 S AD HU S UN D A R S IN GH

S un d a r felt this tempta tio n kee n l y , fo r n o t o n l y did

the si gh t of suc h riches d a zzle his ey es , but his he art w a s
’
dee ply m o ved by his u n cle s co n desce n sio n in thus
humi lia ti n g himse lf to the y ou n gest son of the house
’
ho ld S u n da r s ey es filled with tea rs as he beheld the
.

p gg
u a ree l y i n g o n hi s feet— m a r ki n g th e disgra ce which

he mus t brin g o n those he loved , an d his un cl e sta n di n g

ba rehead ed before hi m But at th a t mome n t his hea rt
.

became fil led to overflowi n g wi th such love an d devotio n

to Chri s t th a t re fusa l c a me e a sil y t o h i s lips , an d wi th
it ca me su c h a se n se of divine a pproba tio n an d a ccept
an ce of h is de a rest S a v iour as stre n gt he n ed e v ery hol y

re solution t o be fa ithful to h is Lo rd A ft er tha t his .

fa th er ma de i t p l a i n t o h i m th a t he w a s n o longer a
so n of th e hous e but a n ou t c a st .

B oth S un da r an d a S ikh cla ss -m a te h a d rea d t he

New Testa me nt wi th t h e sam e result th a t the y found ,

C h rist Bu t t hey were n ot o f an a g e to ta ke the grea t

.

s tep of on fess i n g Chris t publicly an d so were ob liged t o

c ,

r e mai n i n their Hi n du homes The re l a t ives o f S u n d a r 5

.
’

frie n d brough t a ea se i n to t he la w courts c ha rging the

Ame rica n mi ssion a ries with compelli ng t he bo y t o
be come a C h risti a n Upon a ppe a ri n g before t he m a gis
.
‘

s t ra te th e bo y bo re s tea d y wit n ess to the fai t h t ha t was

i n hi m an d be i n g questio n ed h e t ook a N ew Testa me nt
, ,

fro m h is po cke t an d h oldi n g i t i n hi s h a n d repli ed ,

N o t beca use of t he P adri s ah ib but by rea di n g t his

”
I n j i l I believe o n C h rist so le t t he P adri Sah ib go
, , .

T h us th e ca se fell t hrou gh a n d for some ti me lo n ge r

,

S u n da r an d h is frie n d were forced to rem ai n with their

rela tives u n til they w ere a ble to ta ke the momentous
s tep t ha t was to mea n so much to them both l a ter o n .

I t i s ea sy to see h o w whe n a ll persu as io n a n d t he

,

temp tat io n s of a grea t ca reer fai led to tu rn aside th e

bo y from his set pu rpo se t he bitt erest host i lity was
,
26 S AD H U S UND A R S IN G H

i n t hei r sa cred b oo k the Gra n th n ever to cu t the h a ir

, , ,

"
a n d every t rue S ikh glories i n h is ba i rd A mo n g v a rious
ra ces of I n di a t he lo n g t uft of h a ir is rega rded with
speci a l revere n ce a n d i s t he l a st sign of Hi n duism a
,

c a ste m an la y s a side w he n he be comes a Christi a n So .

S u n d a r i n cu t ti n g his h a ir brough t o stra cism o n himself ,

an d a t t he sa me time it w as a n u n mis ta k a ble decl a ra tio n

for Christ a n d His cro ss The n fell o n this poor bo y

.

the bi tteres t blow of a ll He wa s to be disow n ed , c a st

.

out t re at ed o n l y as t he lowest o f th e low an d th a t by

,
'

th ose w h o loved him bes t The A pos tle Pa ul wro t e

.
,
”
We are m a de a s the offsc ou ri ng of a ll thi n gs an d this ,

was t he tre a t m ent me t ed ou t t o a bo y o f sixteen wh o ,

up to t hi s po i n t h ad n o t e n tirel y ca st i n his lot with

Chris ti a n s He w as n o lo n ger cou nt ed as o n e o f t he
.

fa mily His food was served to him outside t he h ouse

.
,
’
j us t a s if he belo n ged to t he u n touch a bl e s an d he wa s ,

mad e to sleep i n th e sam e pl a ce Th e first t ime t his wa s

.

’
do n e the p oo r boy s e yes filled wi t h tea rs a n d t he weight ,

o f h is cross seemed more t ha n h e could be a r .

S hortly after t his o n e o f S u n d a r s bro t hers -i n -la w

’
, ,

w h o was i n the service of th e Ra j a o f Na bh a t ook him ,

fo r a d a y or t wo to s tay a t hi s own h ouse i n t he hope ,

of bri n gi n g h i m to a differe nt sta te o f m i n d It was the n .

t h a t t he Ra j a h ea rd o f t he ma tt er an d he summo n ed ,

S u n da r to a pp ea r before the bar o f t he S ta te A ssembl y

(D urbar) to a c c ou nt for his con duct The R a j a used .

muc h pe rs u a sive l an gu age an d ma de glowi n g o ffers t o

,

hi m ,m o reo ve r h e ma de a s te rn a ppea l to h is pride o f

ra ce remi n di n g hi m th at he was a S i n gh (li on ) a n d th a t
,

to be a C hristi a n was to b ecome a dog Wh at ever .

a n swer S u n d a r ma de i t mus t ha ve be en give n to him m

tha t very hour wh a t he s hould spe a k for n either a rgume n t

,

n or app ea l nor yet offe rs of h igh positio n were a ble t o

m ov e h im i n h is resolu t io n to follow Christ a t al l c os ts .
 C A LLED TO S U FF E R 27

He the n return ed h ome a n d im medi at el y a ll the

,

pe nt -u p a nger of his fa ther wa s let loose upon him .

The helpless bo y wa s cursed disowned a n d told th a t

, ,

011 the following morn ing he must go fort h from h i s

a n cestra l home W ith a sorel y wounded he a rt th a t

.

n ight he la y dow n for the l a st time o n his fa ther s ’

vera nd a h to sleep Before sunrise the follow ing d a y h e

.

w as c a st forth with n othing but the thi n c l othes he

wore a n d e n ough mone y to t a ke him to Pati a l a by ra il
,
.

Homeless frie n dless a n d utterl y destitute S u n d a r

, , ,

tur n ed his b a ck o n t he home of his childhood .

s v
J e u s , I m y c ro s s h a e ta e n , k
A ll to l v
ea e a n d fo o w ll T
h ee ;
s t
D e ti u te , ed sp s d
i e , fo sa en ,r k
T r c s l
h o u f o m h e n e my A ll h a t be .
 CHA P TER VI I I

C A LLE D TO S UFFE B —I I

Tho u co nfessi o n
ma ny wi tnm .
—1 Ti mo th y vi . 12.

A s S u n da r sa t i n th e t ra in th e though t ca me to h im
tha t i n R opur th ere wa s a litt le colo n y of C h risti a n s
so me from R a mpur, w h it h er t he y h ad fled w he n persec u
t i on m ade life impo ssible i n t heir o wn vill a ge — a n d so
ste ppi n g ou t of th e t ra i n he m a de h is wa y to t h e house
o f th e ki n d I n di a n pa s to r an d his good W i fe I t was by .

th e pro v ide n ce of G od t h a t S u n d a r did this , for very soo n

a ft er his a rriv a l he fell viole nt l y ill a n d a ph y sici a n h a d

t o be ca lled i n The n it becam e k n ow n th at a deadl y

.

po iso n h ad been m i x ed i n t he food given him before

lea vi n g h ome It was n o t th e in t e nt io n of his frie n ds th a t
.

t he y should be degraded i n t he eyes of the world but ,

ra ther tha t he should die in the t ra i n All th a t n igh t .

’
t he go od pa sto r s wi fe sa t by his side wa iti n g for the
e n d to co me for the phy sici a n prono u n c e d t he ea se
,

ho pe less an d depa rted wi t h t he promise t o co m e i n t he

morn i n g t o the fu n era l .

S u n da r lay i n morta l pa i n wi t h bl ood flowi n g from

hi s m o u t h a n d h is st ren gth ebbi n g fa st Bu t a s he lay .
,

t here ca m e to h im th e profou n d beli ef th at God h ad n o t

_

ca ll ed h im o u t of da rk n ess to di e with ou t wi tn ess i ng t o

 C ALLED TO S U FF E R 29

hi s fa i t h i n Chris t so he bega n t o pra y with a ll his

,

rem a i n i n g powers W he n morn i n g ca me he wa s stil l

.

a live , though exceedingl y w ea k T h e ph y sici a n c a me .

a ccordi n g to his promise a n d w as a ma zed to find t he

bo y a l ive .S o deepl y impress ed was he th a t he took a
copy of the New Testa me nt a n d be ga n to stud y it .

I n th is way t he phy sici a n himself becam e a believer

i n C h rist a n d t o-d ay is worki n g a s a missio n a ry i n
,

Burm a .

’
S u n d a r s frie n d i n ta ki n g the sa me s tep received
, ,

simil a r tre a tme n t for his rel a ti v es a lso offered him

,

po iso n ed fo od to ea t Wh ile S u n d a r la y betwee n l ife a n d

.

’
dea th h is frie n d s short but heroic w it n ess t o the power
o f Chris t c a me to a n e n d a n d he pa ssed t o the prese n ce
,

of his R edeemer to be for ever w ith the Lord .

W he n S u n d a r w as suffi cientl y stro n g t o u n derta ke

t h e short j ourn ey t o Ludhi a n a he we n t ba c k to the ki n d
c a re of t he Am eric a n mi ssio n a ries there Wh ilst t here .

severa l a tt empts were m a de by his rel a t ives to get

hi m a w a y a n d viole n ce wa s used o n o n e of these occa
, ,

sio n s so th a t the po lice h ad to be ca lled i n t o quell t he

,

disturb a n ce But t he most t ry i n g occurre n ce to S und a r

.

wa s w h e n h is a ged fa ther c ame to m a ke a l a st a ppea l

i n t he hope o f dra wi n g him a wa y The sigh t of t he .

fath er s s t ricke n face an d figu re m ad e a dee p impressio n

’

o n th e bo y a n d as t he o ld man spo ke o f t h e grea t love

,

of h is mo th er a n d h a ppy d a y s of h is c hi ldh ood th ere ,

pa ssed i n flee t in g p a n ora m a before S u n d a r s mi n d a ll ’

th e ha pp i n ess of his old h ome a n d the love t ha t h ad ,

shel tere d his ea rly d a y s His t ea rs scorched h i s ch eeks

. ,

whils t a might y struggle we n t o n i n his hea rt But .

he w as n ot left to struggle a lone for On e stood by him ,

an d rei n forced his soul s resolve t o ta ke up his cros s

’

an d follow Him A s his fa t her turn ed to go a wa y th e

.

l a st grea t sa crifice was ma de a n d S u n d a r st ood as he ,

30 S AD HU S U ND A R S IN G H

does t o -d a y - s t ripped o f a ll th a t life c a n offer but

a ccep t ed o f his Lord These lo n g mo n ths so ful l of
.
,

t ri a l a n d h a rdship h a d bee n a supreme test a n d every

, ,

fresh sorro w o n l y a dded sweet n ess a n d firm n ess to th e

‘

c h a ra cter of this rem a rk a ble bo y .

A fter these eve n ts it bec a me n e c ess a ry for S und a r

t o go a way w here he w ould be prote c ted from his e n emies ,

a n d he w a s sent to the A meric a n Medica l Mission a t

S a b a thu a sm a ll p l a c e t w e n ty -three mi l es from S iml a

, ,

w here he was free from persecutio n a n d a ble to give h is ,

mi n d completely to t h e stud y of h is beloved New

’
Test a me n t S et free from a ll e a rth s ties he bec a me
.
,

i n cre a si n gl y a n xious to co n fess Chris t by b a p t ism .

A ga i n a n d a g a i n he begged th a t he might be a llowed t o

t a ke t his step a n d eve n tu a ll y o n his birthd a y S ept ember
, ,

3 1 9 05 the R ev J R edm a n b a ptized h i m i n the Church

, , . .

of En gl an d a t S iml a N ex t d a y S u n d a r retur n ed to
.

S a b a thu a n d k n owing th a t he wa s
,
buried wi t h Him i n
ba p t ism rise n with Him through fa i th (Col ii 1 2) . .

his he a rt w as filled to overflowing with h a ppiness The .

we a ry str uggles of the p a s t months fa ded i n t h e prese n ce

of th is n ew j o y of bea ri n g the n a me of th e de a r M a s ter
for w hom a lre a d y he h a d suffered so much .

His he a rt n ow beca me filled with a bur n ing desire

t o m ake k n ow n t o ot hers the S a viour to whom he h ad
give n himself so u n reservedl y a n d wi t h ea ger j o y he
,

bega n t o look forwa rd to t h e gre a t work to which his

life w as t o be dedic at ed D uri n g t he h a rd d a ys of his
.

sea rch a fter God S u n d a r h a d m a de a vow th a t if God

would lea d him i nt o pe a ce h e would s a crifice a ll th a t
l ife could offer him A n d n ow the d a y h a d come w h e n
.

he could m a k e a n utter self-surre n der fo r J esus Christ .

He h a d lo n g felt dra w n to the life o f a S adhu a n d k n ow ,

i n g wh a t su c h a life i n volved he w illi n gl y m a de t he

’

fi n a l s a crifice for i t His books a n d perso n a l belo n gi n gs

.
 C A LLE D TO S U FF E R 31

w ere soo n disposed o f a n d o n Oct ober 6 1 905 j ust

, , ,

t hirt y-three d a y s a fter his b aptism he adopt ed t he

,

simp l e s a ffro n robe th a t w as to m a rk him off for a ll time

as o n e vo w ed to a re l igious life . W ith ba re feet a n d no
v isible me a ns of support bu t w ith his N e w Test a me n t
,

i n his h a n d an d his Lord a t his side S adhu S und a r

,

S ingh set o u t o n the e v a n gelistic ca mpa ign th a t h a s

l a s ted t o this da y
.
 CHA PTER IX

CA LLED ro S s av s
'

I t p le ased Go d wh o me by His g rac e to rev eal Hi s

c a lled
So n i n m e , tha t I mi g h t preac h Hi m amo ng the heathen .

Ga la ti an s i 1 5 - 1 6
. .

S U N D A R w as n ow emb a rked o n a life of such co mpl ete

self-a b n ega t io n a n d su fferi n g as fa lls to th e lo t o f few
me n i n t his world His pa th fro m Hi n du ism to Christ
.

h a d bee n o n e o f tho rn s a ll th e way But afte r hi s .

,

visio n o f t he thorn -crow n ed J esu s an d hi s ac c e p ta nc e

of the pe a ce his S a viour brou gh t n o thi n g s eemed too ,

gre a t t o give up for Him In th e u n dyi ng w ords o f

.

D r Wa t ts
.

W e re le rea lm o f natu re mi ne
th e w h o ,

o ffe ri ng far to o small

Lo v e so ama z i ng so di v i ne
, ,

D e ma nds m y so u l my l i fe my all
, , .

N othi n g less th a n su ffi ced t o sa tisfy his a rd ent na ture

a ll
‘

an d o n e ca nn ot wo n der th a t o n e n teri n g th e S adhu

l ife i n th at spirit be determi n ed a s he sa y s that His , ,

gra ce a bidi n g h e would live no ot h er , so lo n g as life

was his to spe n d for Christ .

Though bu t a bo y i n yea rs t h e hea rt of S ad h u S un d ar

,
34 S AD HU S U ND A R S I N OH

certa i nty o f shelter fro m t h e bitter wi n ds an d pouri n g

ra i n an d t he grey d a w n ofte n brough t d ay s o f hu n ger an d
,

sufferi n g such as he h a d n ever k n ow n Eve n his fervent .

soul qu a iled a t th e h a rdship t h a t seemed t o bri n g so little

ret urn for ofte n his mess age was discredi t ed a n d he him
,

self c a st fort h to spe n d a hu n gry n igh t i n c a ves or a n y

’
poo r shelter t he j un gle might a fford H is S adhu s clothes
.

ga ve him e nt ra n ce every w here bu t oft e n whe n it w as

,

discovered t h a t he wa s a Christi an S u n d a r w a s driven

,

h u n gry a n d helpless from the v ill ages to live o r die .

But n ot hing c an discoura ge him I n c a p a b l e of .

dra w ing b a ck in fa ce o f d a n ger or de a th itself S ad hu

.
,

S u n d a r S i ngh co n ti n ues his sublime missio n i n the

d a rkest corn er s of I n di a a n d t he regio n s be y o n d Ye a r .

i n an d ou t he h as l a boured for the souls of me n in pl a i n

and mount a in i n cit y an d vi ll a ge a n d a mongst the
, ,

sc a t t ered peoples a n d wa n deri n g tribes o n the fro n tiers

of I n di a It h a s be e n a mo n gst these peop l es th a t he h a s
.

suffered so severel y but a mongst them too he h as h ad

,

the supreme j o y n ot onl y of m a ki n g Christ kno w n but ,

of lea di n g me n to His fee t His chief work h a s been

.

’
d o ne a mon gst n o n -Christi an s to whom he feels God s
,

ca ll t o be clea r a n d u n mista ka bl e .
 CHA P TE R X

C A LLE D TO P R E A C II

1 d r
e te m i ne d no t to k”n o w an
yth i n g a mo n g yo u , sa ve
Je h i t , a n d Hi m
su s C r s e ru e i fi ed . —l Co r s
i n th i a n i i 2
. .

VE RY w e a ry a fter hi s long a n d h a rd j ourne y through

t h e P unj a b , K a s hmir B a luchist a n a n d A fgh a nist a n , the
,

S éi d h u retra c ed his steps a n d c a me to K otg a rh , a sm all

pl a c e bey o n d S im l a in the Him a l a y a s w h e re he rem a i ned ,

a time fo r rest .This litt l e pl a c e w i l l a l wa y s be a ssoci a ted

with S u n d a r S in g h for e arly i n his c a reer he l a boured
,

there a n d it is to Kotga rh sti l l th a t he retires for a brief

,

rest bet w ee n his tours or before st a rting on his a rduou s

,

j ourney s i n to the c l osed l a nds of Tibe t a n d Nep a l .

D uri n g th e s u mmer of 1 906 S und a r met Mr S tokes , .

,

w h o w a s st a y ing n e a r K otg a rh This w e alth y A meri c a n

.

g ent l em a n h a d c o m e to Indi a t o la bour for her people ,

a nd for th e glory of God Meeting the S adhu fired .

his he a rt a n d fi l l ed him w ith a desire to j oin him in

,

his a rduous life A fter pra y er an d thought Mr S tokes

. .

took this st e p a n d th e two S fi d h u s took a j ourne y

,

tog ether throu g h the Kh a ngr a v a l l e y .

Food a n d she l ter were difficu l t to obt a i n a n d th e ,

two brothers su ffered much but their w ork w a s good ,

a n d their fel l o w ship s w eet It w a s during this j ourn ey

.
36 S AD H U S UND A R S IN G H

tha t S u n d a r S i n gh fell ill The two S adhus h ad t ra velled

.

to get her for some hu ndreds o f miles sh a ri n g t he sa me ,

hardsh ips ofte n bei n g obliged to seek shelter i n the

,

co mm on fil thy sera is a n d ofte n subsis t i n g o n t he ba res t

,

an d ro ugh es t die t an d li tt le e n ough of t ha t

, T h ey were .

pa ssi n g t hro u gh very u nh e a lth y cou n try w h e n S u n da r

was seized wit h fever a n d severe i n te rn a l p a i n s .

S h a ki n g wit h ag ue bur n i n g w ith fe v er a n d a lway s i n

,

pa i n he dra gged o n u nt il a t l a s t he could w a lk n o

,

lo n ger He s a n k o n th e pa t h a lmos t u n co n scious a n d

.
. ,

Mr S tok es mo v ed h im i nto a n e asier po sitio n e nq uiri n g

.
,

a t t he sam e t ime as to h ow h e wa s No compl a i nt e v er .

pa sses t he lips of t h e S ad h u wh atever his lot an d Mr , .

S t ok es was n o t a t all surprised t o receive the repl y he

did With a smile t hough i n a feeble v oice the S ad hu
.
, ,

a n s w ered I a m very h a ppy

, Ho w s weet it is to suffer .

”
for His sa ke Those who kn ow th e S adhu best k n ow
.

”
t h a t t his is the key n ote of i i s l ife
- . .

I t was a w ild a n d j u n gly p lac e where t h is h a ppe n ed ,

a n d Mr S to kes wa s i n gre a t di fficul t y bu t he succeeded

.
,

i n getti n g the si c k ma n to t h e h ou se of a Europe a n some

miles a way w here he wa s n urs ed t o h ea lth a ga i n T he
,
.

ki n d hos t w as a t t h a t t ime w i t hout a n y c a re for religio n ,

bu t d ay by d a y h e sa w the ex a mple of th e S adhu a n d

hea rd suc h t h i n gs fro m h is lips as c a used him t o think
deepl y u nt il he bec a me a t ru l y converted m a n Thus
,
.

was th is ill n e ss bl e ssed t o t he sa v ing Of o ne so ul w h o

fou n d j o y a n d pea ce i n Christ J esus .

Mr S tokes po ssessed a m a gic l a nt er n which the Sad hu

.

bo rrowed a n d used i n Ra mpur a n d ot her pla ces for

stree t prea ch ing a t n ight w hen la rge n umbers of pe ople ,

ga t h ered to see th e pictures a n d he a r the expl a n a t io n .

Thus u n we a riedl y night a n d d a y the two S adhus pa ssed

, ,

from pla ce t o p l a ce doi n g most of their tra velli n g by

,

n igh t bec a use the su n w as too fi e rce for Mr Stokes

’

.
,
 C A LLE D TO P R EA C I I 87

to be a r its ra ys o n his u n pro tecte d hea d It was a t .

this time th at Mr S tok es spoke so a ppreci a t i v ely of the

.

w ork of t he S adhu w h o t hough n o t muc h more th a n a

, ,

bo y w as so filled wi t h h i s message th a t wherever he

,

we n t peo ple were u n der a s t ran ge co mpulsio n t o list e n

to w h at he s a id .

I n 1 907 the two Sad h us la boured i n the Leper A sy lum

a t S a b a thu an d l a ter i n th e
, y ea r th ey we n t do w n to
La hore to w ork a mon gs t t he pl a gu e -s t ricke n i n th e
Pl ag ue C a mp there Th ey to il ed u n re mi tt i n gl y d ay a n d
.

night a llo w i n g t hemselves o n l y brief hours of respit e

, ,

an d eve n these w e re spe nt l i n g o n t he grou n d a mo n gs t

y .

th e sick a n d d y i n g .

The n ext yea r Mr St okes we nt to A me ric a o n

.

furlough a n d S u n d a r was o n ce m ore left a lo n e From .

Lahore he we n t o n to S indh return i n g t hrough Raj puta n a

,

to North I n di a a ga in a n d the n as th e ho t wea th e r dre w

,

o n he m a de his first j ourn ey i nto the closed la n d of

Tibet In a ll these pl a c es t he Gospel was pre a c h ed
.

incessa ntl y a n d n o ma n w ho ca me a c ross th e Si d hu

,

w ent a w a y w ithout he a rin g th a t J esus h ad c ome i nt o

th e w or l d to s a ve sin n ers .

A fter his return fro m Ti bc t he h ad a gre a t des ire t o

‘

go to Pa lesti n e i n the belief tha t to see the pla ce where

,

his S a viour h a d lived an d died w ould i n spire him to

fu ll er a n d better se r v i c e But w hen he rea ched Bomba y
.

he found it impra ctic a ble s o i n 1 909 he return ed to,

North I ndi a throu g h th e Ce n tra l Provi n ces pre a chi n g ,

a s he w e n t.
 C HA P TER XI

W HA T WI S D O M IS THI S "

Fro m wh en ce h a th th i s Ma n th es e thi n g s and wh at w i sd o m

is th i s wh i c h is g i v en u n to Hi m — Ma rk v i . 2
.

T H A T S und a r S ingh was t a ugh t of God wa s u n m i sta k

a bl y s h ow n b th e wo n derful he a ri n g he t a mo n gst
y g o
n o n -C h ris t i a n s thus ea rl y i n his ca reer His frie n ds .

recognized th a t he possessed u n usu a l powers a n d tha t ,

his prese n ta tio n o f the Go spel held people by its a ttra e

ti v e n ess a n d pers u a sive n ess S o much wa s this the c a se
.

th a t they felt it desira ble to widen the S phere of his

opera ti ons by i n cluding the Christi a n communit y a mong
those to whom he we n t But for this some definite .

prepa ra tion was n eeded a n d the y a dvised him to j oi n

,
.

’
the St Joh n s D ivinit y College La hore
. This he did , . ,

pa ssi n g on entry the ex a mi n a tio n usu a ll y imposed a t the

close o f th e first y ea r a n d proceeding a t o n ce to the
,

sec ond ye a r s course The ye a rs 1 909 a n d 1 9 1 0 were

’
. .

spent i n stud y a n d duri n g va c a tio n t i me he co nt i n ued

,

his e v a n gelistic we rk a s heret ofore

'

S u n d a r still wore the sa ffro n robe The S adhu ide a .

fo r a Christi a n wa s something quite n ew a t th a t time ,

a n d wa s a c a use o f co n sidera ble doubt to m a n Bu t

y .

he n e v er swerved from his firs t reso lution a lthough the ,

 40 S AD H U S UN D A R S IN G H

cri t icism h e was ofte n subj ec ted t o tended to ma ke ,

th ese y ea rs ha rd for h im
. .

'

W h ils t S u n d a r wa s i n college Mr S tokes return ed .

from furl ough h a vi n g gon e t o En gla nd a n d t here sta rt ed

,

t h e idea of a bro the rhood wh o se work should be e x clu

,

si v ely fo r t h e gl o ry of Go d a n d the help o f ma n i n w h a t ,

ev e r fo rm i t migh t prese nt itself— n ot n ecessa ril y the

wo rk of prea c h i n g The humbler a n d ha rder the l a bours
.
,

th e better " Th e A rc h bishop of C a n terbury w a s

a p pro ac hed o n th e m a tt er an d seemed to thin k it would
,

be a good t hi n g so th a t a fter Mr S tokes return ed

, .

to I n dia thi s brotherh ood was st a rt ed with fi ve persons ,

th e on ly I n di a n bei n g t he S adhu The brotherho od w a s .

i na ug ura ted i n a solem n se rvi ce i n La hore C a thedra l ,

whe n two of t he five took t he vows but S unda r rem a i n ed ,

a n ovic e ha vi ng a lrea d y vo wed hi mself to th e life of a

,
’
Sadh u for Chris t s sa ke .

Upon lea vi n g c o llege h e was recomme n ded for

’
d ea co n s o rders by the D ioc esa n Missio n Cou n cil a n d
was gra nt ed a lice n ce to prea c h S oo n a fter le a vi n g .

college his hea rt tu rned to Tibet whither he went for ,

th e six mo nth s of h ot wea ther re tu rn i n g to Ko tga rh , ,

w he re h e wo rk ed i n conne xi on wi th the Church Missio n

ary S o cie ty for s o me t i me .

Li ke th e grea t En glish prea c h er Joh n W esley the

.
, ,

sad h u look e d u pon th e w o rld a s hi s p a rish a n d he ,

prea c hed ev e ry w he re an d to all wh o would gi v e h eed to

h i s messa ge It was n ot lo n g before diss a tisfa c tion wa s
.

expressed at h is me th ods of work He wa s to l d tha t .

i n de acon s ord e rs it was u n desira ble a n d tha t as a priest

’
,

i t wou ld be im po ssi ble to conti n ue worki n g i n this wa y

, .

T he pu re an d simple spiri t of th e ma n n ever fo r a mome nt

s ta gg e re d o r s tay ed to con te mpl a te w ha t would be the
resu lt if h e d ecli ned to obey The sh eltered life of a .

priest wi th i ts po ssibili t ies of pre ferme n t h eld n o temp ta ti on

 CHA P TER XI I

E A R LY EXPE R IE N C E S as A SAD H U

He whi h o n c c v e rtet h a si nne r fro m th e erro r o f h i s w a y sh al l

”—
sa ve a so u f om l r death a nd sh a ll h i de a mu lti tu de o f sin s
, J a mes .

v . 20 .

“
Jo y sh a ll be i n h ea v en o v er o ne si n ner th at repe n teth .

Lu ke xv . 7 .

THE y ea rs 1 9 1 1 and
spen t i n t ouri n g i n
1 9 1 2 w ere
G a rhwa l , N ep a l , K ul u the Pu nj a b a nd m a n y other
, ,

pl a ces whilst e ach y ea r duri n g the six mo n ths of h o t

,

wea ther the S adhu we nt a lo n e to Tibet The follo w i n g .

i n cide nt s give some idea of his life an d work a t th a t time .

S u n d a r S i n gh wa s o n e d a y m a king his wa y to a ce rta i n

vill a ge whe n he c a ugh t sight of two me n i n front of him ,

o n e of whom sudde n l y dis a ppe a red A little furt her o n .

he overt ook the rem a ining m a n who a ccosted him a n d , ,

po i n ti n g to a sheeted figu re o n the ground told the S adhu

th a t th is wa s his frie n d who h ad died by the w ay a n d ,

he ha d n o mo n ey to bury him S u n d a r h ad o n l y his .

bl a n ket a n d two pice which h ad bee n give n h i m for the

toll ba r but these he ga ve to the m an a n d p assed on his
,

wa y He h a d n o t go n e fa r w he n the m a n ca me r unn ing

.

a fter him a n d sobbed out th a t his comp a n io n w as re a ll y

,

de a d The S adhu did n ot understa n d until he bega n to

.
,

expl a i n th a t it wa s their custom to ta ke it in turn s to

prey o n t he public by prete n d ing o n e of them w as dea d .
 E A R LY E X P E RI EN C E S AS A S AD H U 13

This they h ad done for y e ars but th a t ( la v w hen th e m a n

,

i ven t ba ck to ca ll his friend there was n o response a n d ,

on l ifting the cloth he wa s horror -stricken to find him

a ctu a l l
y de a d . The w retched m a n sought the S adhu s
’

forgiveness bei n g a ssured th a t here w a s some grea t s a int

,

w hom he h a d robbed of a ll he h a d a n d thus h a d th e dire

,

disp l e a sure of th e gods fa llen u po n them Then S und a r .

spoke to h im o f the Lord of life a n d in tha t penitent ,

mome nt the ma n a ccepted the mess age He sent him .

to a m i ssmn sta t ion n ea r G a rh wa l w here in due time h e

,

wa s b a pti zed .

011 o n e o f his lo n g j ourn e ys in the mo u n t a ins th e

footpa th divided a t a cert a i n point a n d he wa s in doubt ,

a s to w hi c h p a th to ta ke He ch ose the wrong o n e a n d

.
,

upo n a rriva l a t a vi l l a ge he found he h a d go n e eleve n

miles ou t o f his wa y Tu rn ing bac k S und a r met a m a n
.

with whom he entered i n to con v ers a tion a n d bega n to ,

spe a k t o him of Christ Then the m a n produ c e d from

.

the folds of his clothes a copy of the N ew Test a ment ,

which h e co n fessed to h a v i n g hid when he sa w th e S adhu

coming in the belief th a t he w a s a Hindu s a n y asi Th e
, .

ma n h a d doubt s to w hich he could find n o so l ution but ,

S u n d a r so de a l t wi th them th a t the m a n fou n d Chri s t .

'

In spe aking of this to the w riter S u n d a r rem a rked .

The n I k n ew wh y I h a d go n e a stray for Chri s t h a d ,

”
se n t me to help this a nx ious soul .

A t Na rk a n d a the S adhu fou n d some me n rea ping i n

a field . Joi n i n g them he spoke to them a s th e y worked , ,

of J esus a n d etern a l things A t fi rst the y listened w ith

.

i n differen c e a n d the n w ith dis a pproba tion They h a d no .

mi nd to hea r a bout a stra nge reli g ion S ome of the men .

bega n to curse a n d thre a te n him a n d one t ook a stone

,

a n d hit him o n the he a d . A fter a time th e ma n w h o h ad

t hrow n the sto n e wa s se i zed w ith a severe he a d a c he a n d
h a d t o stop work . The S adhu then took up the sc v th c
 44 S AD HU S UN D A R S IN G H

an d rea ped wi th th e oth ers Th i s soften ed their hea rts

.

and at the e n d of the d a y th e men i n vited him to a ecom

p a n y th em home. I n t he quiet o f t h e eve n i n g a better

oppo rtu n ity wa s a fford ed for t he givi n g of his messa ge ,

a n d th e n he we n t a wa The re a pers h a v i n g rested

y .
, ,

be g a n to ta ke stock o f th e ha rvest ga thered tha t d a y ,

a n d to their a s t onishme nt fou n d a greater y ield th a n

t he y ha d h ad i n pre v ious y ea rs They we re t hen afra id
.
,

a n d d ec la red a mo n gst th em se lv es tha t a hol y ma n h ad

vi si ted t h em a n d this i n crea se was proo f of it The n .

they stro ve to fi n d the Sadh u tha t th ey migh t give bet ter

,

heed to h i s messa ge bu t foun d him n ow he re

, .

Th i s 1n c i d en t wa s publis h ed i n a North I n dia n pa per ,

The N u r Afsha n by o n e of t he me n present o n th e

,

oc ca sio n who ma de a n a ppe a l thro ug h i ts pa ges t o S u n d a r

,

to re tu rn a mo n gs t them tha t t h ey m i gh t rece ive his

messa ge .

A t the an cie n t ci ty of 1 3 161s th e Sad h u fou n d

himself amo n g st a cru el a n d treac hero u s peo ple who ,

seei n g he wa s a Chri s ti a n la id a plo t to t ake hi s life .

S itt i n g t o rest himself t he n e w s was brough t to him by

,

o n e less evil -disposed tha n the rest bu t as h e ha d do n e ,

n othi n g t o wa rra n t s u c h a th in g he fo u n d i t di ffi cult t o ,

believe it possible However h e decid ed to ta ke t he

.
,

w a rn i n g a n d to see k a sa fer ret rea t On ly the commo n .

se ra i in fested with mosqui toes an d vi ler i n sects rema ined

, ,

so to this he wen t . N ext morn i n g whe n he ha d li t a fire

,

a n d w a s dryi n g his wet clot hes a n umber of Pa than s

,

a rri v ed . Much to his a m a zeme n t the foremo st of these

m e n c a me in a n d fell a t h i s feet Th e Pa th an the n
.

expl a i n ed h o w th ey h a d sought to ta ke his life bu t s eei n g ,

him h a d a ltere d their i n ten tio i i for i n stead of his bei n g

,

fro z e n a s they h ad expected he w a s well a n d n one th e

,

w o rse for his expe riences Th e y were d ri v e n to belie v e

.

t h a t he re wa s o n e fa vou red of A lla h a n d the y begg ed ,

 E A R LY E X P ERIEN C ES AS A SA D HU 45

th a t he w ould a ccept o f th eir hospi ta li ty a n d a ccom pa n y

t h em home The S adhu spe n t a very h a pp y w eek w i th
.

t hem a n d th ey ga ve good heed to his tea ching so t h a t

, ,

he believes t here will be fru it of his l a bou rs a mongs t

these rough a n d h a rden ed me n .
 CHA P TE R XI I I
O BE DI E N C E B Y S u rn a me .

l ea rn ed He o bed i en ce by th e th i n g s w hi ch He s u ffe red

Ye t .

H b re ws v 8
e . .

I co u nt a ll th i n g s bu t l o ss th t I ma y k n w Hi m
a o

d th e fe ll o ws h i p o f Hi s s u ffe ri n g
1n —I l1 i l i i i 8 1 0
.
’
. .
, .

No
'

o ne but S adhu S und a r S ingh himself kno w s h o w

gre a t h a v e been his s u ffering s duri n g his ye a rs of servi c e
for his M a s ter He a dmits th a t v ery often he h a s go n e
.

w ithout proper food bein g redu c ed to ea ti n g th e berrie s

,

a n d p r oduce o f th e j ung l e a n d m a n y a night h e h as

,

bee n dri v en from the v i l l ages an d been ob l iged to s l eep

u nd e r tree s or in c a v es of th e e a rth The p a rt s of I n di a
.

w here the c hief of hi s w ork h as bee n do n e a re no pl a ces

for s u c h a life s o th a t it is n ot surprising th a t 0 11 more
,

th a n o n e o c c a sion the S adhu h a s sh a red h is mi sera b l e

shelter with a s n a ke or wild a nim a l .

A t a v i ll a ge in th e di s tri c t of Thori a the people beh a v ed

s o ba d l y to h i m th a t his nights w ere a l wa y s spent in th e
j ungle a s l o ng a s h e wa s working a mo n gst them O n a .

p a rti c u l a rl y d a rk night a fter a discoura gi n gl y h a rd d a y

, ,

the S adhu found a ca v e w here h e sprea d his bl a n ket a n d

la y do wn to sl eep W hen d a y light c a me i t reve a led th e
.

horrible spe c t a cl e o f a l a rge leopa rd stil l a sleep close to

h im Th e sight a lmo s t p a ra l y sed h im w ith fe a r but
.
,

o n ce outside th e c a v e h e could o n l y reflect upon the

gre a t pro v ide n ce of God th a t h ad pres er v ed him w hi l e
 O B ED I E N C E BY S U FF E RI N G 47

he slept His o w n w ords a re

. Ne v er to thi s d a y h a s
y w ild an im a l d o n e me a n y h a rm
"
an .

O n a nother o c c a s ion being dri v en out of

, cert a in a

vill age S und a r we n t to medita te on a ro c k c lose to a

,

c av e D ee p i n co n temp l a tion it w a s s ome time befo r e

.
,

he n ot iced th a t he wa s being s te a l thi l y obser v ed by a

bl a ck pa nther th a t was c rou c hin g n o t fa r a w a y Fil l ed .

w ith fe a r bu t putting his trust in God he quietl y rose ,

a n d w a lked forwa rd a s if n othing w ere there He g o t .

a w a y s a fel y to the vill a ge a n d w he n th e people kne w

,

o f his e sc a pe the y decl a red he must be a v ery hol

y m a n ,

si n ce this very pa nther h a d ki l l ed s e v era l pe o ple from

th a t v ill a ge They then gathered round t o re c ei v e th e
.

mess a ge w hich they h a d spurn ed before a n d s o S und a r ,

a ga i n t h a n ked God a n d took coura ge .

O n e morn i n g a n umber of sadhus were ga thered on

t he b an ks o f the G a nges a t a p lac e c a l led R ishi Kesh
a midst a cro w d of re l igious b a thers a n d a mongst them
,

s tood S adhu S u n d a r S ingh Test a ment i n h a nd pre a c h

, ,

ing S ome w ere listening in a mildl y interested w a y

.
,

w h ilst others joked a n d scoffed a t the m a n a n d his

messa ge Un expectedl y a m an from the cro wd lifted u p
.

a h a n dful of s a n d a n d threw it i n his e y es a n a c t th a t ,

roused the i n dig n a tio n of a better-disposed man who ,

h a n ded the offe n der over to a policema n Me a n w hile .

t he S adhu we n t down to the river a n d wa shed the sa nd

from h is e yes U po n his retu r n h e begg ed for the re l e a s e
.

of t h e culprit a n d pro c ee d ed w ith his pre ac hing S u r .

prised by this ac t a n d th e w a y he h ad ta ken the i n s ult ,

the m a n Vid y an a n d a fe l l a t his feet beggi n g h i fo rgi v e

, ,
s

ne s s a n d decl a ring a de s ire to underst a nd m ore o f

,

w h a t the S adhu w a s sp ea king a bout This m a n bec a me

.

a seeker a fter truth a n d a fter wa rds a ccomp a nied him

,

o n his j ourn ey lea rn i n g w ith meek n e ss from h i s lip s th e

,

story o f redeemi n g lo v e .
48 S A D HU S UN D A R S I N GH

V ery ea rl y i n his pilgri m age s S u n d a r tra velled through

a n u mber of vi l l a ges one of w hich w a s ca lled D oli wa la
, .

The d a y h a d been a h a rd o n e the ma rc h very l o n g a n d , ,

the s adhu a rri v ed utterl y exh a usted a n d b a dl y in n eed

of food a n d rest \Va l ki n g do w n the villa ge street h e
.

a sked a ga i n a n d aga i n for some shelter where he might

spe n d the n igh t but i n e v e ry plac e — when it w a s dis
,

c o vered th a t he w as a Christi a n — h e w a s dri v en a w a

y .

Hea v y ra i n w a s fa lli n g a n d it wa s bitterl y cold W e a ried .

a l m ost to de a th S und a r so ugh t refuge i n a rui n ed bu t of

,

two rooms without doors or w i n dow s A t le a s t h e was

, .

out of the ra i n a n d th a n king God he l a id his bla n ke t i n

,

t he driest spo t an d went hungry t o bed .

S oo n h e fell a sleep a n d did n o t wa ke u n til t he c hill

, ,

gre y d a w n ca me In the h a lf-d a rk n ess he sa w a bl ac k

.

obj ect coiled up i n his bl a nket c l ose beside him a n d ,

looking closer he discovered th a t a huge cobra had a ls o

s ought she l ter a n d wa rmth beside him S peedil y he .

c a ped from the hut lea v i n g the sn ake a sleep but on

, ,

fu rther thought he returned S ei z i n g a cor ner o f the .

b l an ket he shook it free of the v enomou s re ptile w hich ,

sluggishl y w rigg l ed o ff to the fu rthest corner of th e room .

S u nd a r the n took his bl a n ket w ith a feeli n g of gre a t

th a nkfulne ss th a t God h ad ta ke n ca re of him i n the hou rs
of sleep a n d spa red him for further service
,
.

A n edu c a t ed A ry a S a ma j ge n t lem an rel a tes h o w

.

one d a v w he n he wa s des ce n ding a mounta in h e met a

y oung S adhu going up Curiosit y prompted
. him to
wa tch w h a t w ou l d h a p pen so i n st e a d of j oining him for
,

a t a l k a s h e a t fir s t thought of doi n g he w a ited a n d thi s

, ,

w a s w h a t h e sa w “h en the Sad hu got to th e v i l l a g e

.

h e sa t down upo n a log and w ipi n g the pers pi ra tion

,

from his fa ce he c ommenced si n gi n g a Ch risti a n h ymn .

S oon a c r o w d ga thered but wh e n it wa s found th a t the

,

l o v e of Christ w a s the theme ma n y of the people be c a me

 C HA P TER XI V

THE FAS T

W he n th o u pra y est pra y to th y Fath er wh i h c is in

s re t
ec . v i . 6 .

W h e n th o u fas tes t ppe ar n o t u n to

a men to s
fa t , b u t to
thy F r
a th e , w h i c h i s i n se c ret —Ma tth ew v i
. . 17 , 18.

To w a rd s th e en d of 1 9 1 2 a letter wa s recei v ed by the

‘
R e v ( a n on S a n d v s of C a lcutt a from C a n a d a a sking for
.
, ,

A C h r i st i a n S i k h to b e s e nt a s a pr each e r to wo rk amon g st
4000 S i kh l u m be r m en i n Br it i s h C o l um bi a The r e q ues t w as .

l a i d b e fo re S und a r S i ng h , w h o a t on c e ag r ee d to g o .

E v e r yt h in g w as re a d y fo r h i m . w hen the s h i pp in g ag ents

d e cl i n e d to s en d h i m , on the g roun d th at th e C a na d i a n G o v e rn
m e nt h a d p a ss e d i m m i g ra ti on l aw s w h i ch m a d e i t i m p o ss i bl e
fo r th e m to bo o k h i m th roug h S un d a r S i n g h fe l t th e.

d i s a pp o i n tm ent k een l y b u t s i m pl y s a i d P erh a ps i t i s not

.

G od s w i ll I shou ld e v e r g o to C a n a d a
’

Later C a non S a nd y s w rote I fa i l ed to g et a p a ss ,

po rt fo r him a s th e Go v e r nment no doubt w a s at th a t

,

time recei v ing p r i v a te info r m a tion a bout the Co l umbi a n

”
S ikhs A n d s o to th e S adhu s sorro w th c id e a h ad to
’ '
.

be a b a n d oned .

He then w o rked his w a y a c ross the c ountry from

C a l cutt a to Bomba y a n d e v entu a ll y north a ga i n A fter
, .

his b a ptism he h a d tw o strong desires o n e bei n g to ,

v i s it Pa l estine th e s c ene of our S a v iour s l ife a n d w ork

,
’
,
 T HE FA S T 51

and th e oth e r to imit a te Jesus i n fa stin g fort y d a y s a n d

fort y nights Dv these me a n s he hoped to obt a in fresh
.

s piritu a l enlightenment To a chieve th e fi rst i n 1 908 he

'
. .

m a de his w a y to Bomba y but found th a t for v a rious

,

r e a sons th e j o urne y a t th a t time w a s im p r a ct i c a b l e .

S ome four y e a rs l ater i s h e n the proposed visit to C a n a d a

,
’
fe l l thro u gh th e S adhu s mind turned to the ide a of
,
'

r eti rement fo r pra yer a n d fa sting in the be l ie f th a t .

th e s e thin g s w ould mi n ister to the g re a t n eed fo r a cl oser

c o mm u nio n w ith God a n d incre a sed po wer for ser v ice .

It wa s a bout this time th a t h e ca me in c ont a c t w ith

1 Ro m a n C a tholic medic a l m an a Fra n c is c a n c a l l i n g
, ,

hi m s e l f D r S w ift a n d tra v e l l in g w ith h im up north th c v

.
,

di scu ss ed th e id ea o f a fa st th e l a tter stri v ing to di s su a de

,

t h e S adhu from a ttempting it a n d dec l a ring th a t de a th ,

w o u l d sur e l y re s u l t if he did S eein g ho we v er th a t h e

.
, ,

s ti l l de s i re d to a cc o mp l i s h it the D o c tor begg ed him to

,

g i v e him th e a ddr e s s e s o f his c hief fr i e nds th a t in c a s e ,

o f n e c e s s i tv h e mi ht c ommuni c a te w ith them

g .

Thi s wa s done a n d the tw o men p a rted th e D o c tor ,

w ith th e intentio n o f j o m i n g a C a tho l ic fra ternit y a n d ,

th e S adh u w ith the determin a tio n to s ee k reti r ement

th a t h e mi g ht gi v e himself to fa s ting a n d pra yer The .

D o c t o r w rote to a friend of hi s n e ar D ehra D u n tel l ing

him o f wh a t w a s h a ppen in g w hi l e a wa y in the j un g l y
,

c o u ntry bet w een H a rd w a r a n d D e bra D u n S und a r S in g h ,

w e nt a l o ne to me e t his God .

Th e d a y s p a ssed w ithout a n y n e w s of him fi l te r in g

th r o u g h to th e outside w o rl d a n d me a n w hi l e h e rem a ined
,

in th e j un g l e w ithout food a n d g ro w ing w e a k e r e v e rv

,

d ay . Ha v in g been w a r ned a s to w h a t m ight h a ppen to

him th e S adh u m a de p ro v i s ion fo r in cr e a sing w e a kness
by c o ll e c ting fort y stones o n e o f w hi c h he dropped e a c h
,

d a y in o r d er to keep th e c ount but a t len g th he w a s ,

un a bl e e v e n to do thi s H i s he aring a n d sight left him

.
 52 S AD HU S UN D A R S IN G H

an d he la v a s on e in a tra nce conscio u s of w h a t wa s

,

goi n g o n a bout him but un a b l e to m a ke a n y outw a rd

s ign of life . A s ph y si c a l po we r s de cl ined a n d extre me
e x h a ustion set in he fe l t w ithin himself a gre a t qui cken
ing of the spirit a n d in thi s s t a t e hi s comp l ete depe n
,

de n ce upon God a n d other m a tters o f i n tense spiritu a l

,

im porta n ce w ere reve a l ed to him so th a t sin c e th a t

, ,

time n on e of th e doubts th a t on c e a ss a i l ed him h a v e ha d

a n y po w er o v er him I n thi s c ondition h e w a s found
.

by some ba mboo c utters w h o s e ein g hi s s a ffro n robe

-
, ,

lifted him into hi s b l a nket a n d c o n ve y ed him to R ishi

,

Kesh an d then to D ehra D u n From then c e h e w a s s ent

.

in a c a rri age to A nn fie l d S o a lter e d w a s h e in a ppe a r

.

a n ce by w h a t he h a d p a ssed thro u g h th a t h e w a s n ot

recogn i z ed by his Christi a n friends a t A n n fie ld But .

the y kne w w h o h e w a s by the n a me i n his Test a ment

'
,

a n d c a re fu lly n u rse d him b a ck to life .

Me a n whi l e D r S w ift re c e i wed n e w s fro m his frie n d

.

th a t a m a n c or r e s ponding to his de sc ription of th e S adhu

h a d been disco v ered i n the j u n g l e a t th e point o f de a th .

S u rmising th a t his predi c tions h a d c ome true th e D o c tor

possibl throu h a fr iend ) w i r ed to th e S adhu s friend s
’

( y g
”
th a t S und a r S ingh s l ept in Je s us Th e Metropo l it a n
.

a n d C a non S a nd y s w e r e t wo of t h e s i x w h o r e c ei v ed the s e

t el eg r a m s Th e l a tter w ro te to th e s t a tion m a ster from

.

w hence the tele g r a m s h a d been sent m a kin g e n qu i ri e,

to w h o the sender wa s a n d the rep l y c a me th a t the y h a d

,

been h a nded i n by a b l a c k -c o a ted g ent l em a n .

t i l st S und a r w a s l y in g w ea k a n d i ll a t A n n field ,

u n con scious o f th e r eports being circ u l a ted a bo u t him ,

obitu a ries a ppe a red in th e p a per s a n d a m emori a l ser v i c e

,

w a s held in the c hurc h a t S i m l a m o n e v a ls o being contri

,

buted for a t a b l et to be p l a c ed there i n hi s memory By .

M a rc h h e w a s w e l l enou g h to re s ume his tra v els a n d ,

w en t up to S iml a w hen h e h ea rd th e s tory of hi s reported

,

dea th .
 THE FA S T 53

This fea rfu l e x perience did bring the spiritu a l e n l ighte n

men t the S adhu h a d belie v ed it would a n d a lthough
,

cou n t of time w a s l ost a n d th e fa st c ould n o t h a v e l a sted

,

fo r fort y d a y s th is enlightenment w a s g a ined a lmost a t

,

t he loss of his l ife .

 C II I P TER X V

F U R TH E R Jo
‘

u as a v s AND PE R S IZ C L TI O N S
’

C h ri st l l be m a g n i fi ed
sh a i n m y bo d y , w he th e r i t be b v l i fe o r
by de a t h .
—P h i l i 20
. . .

A FT E R hi s re c o v e r y from th e effe c t s of th e fa s t S adhu ,

S und a r S in g h w ent a g a in to Tibet for th e si x month s o f

t h e hot w e a the r of 1 9 1 3 a n d returni n g spe n t th e co ld
.

se a so n tou ring through N o rth Indi a Ea r l y th e fo ll o w .

ing y e a r h e w a s a g a i n in Ben g a l a n d w orking his w a v ,

up to D a rj eelin g h e e ntered S ikkim The Na ti v e S t a t e s .

bordering No rthern Indi a c hief of w hi c h a re N ep a l , ,

S ikkim a n d Bhut a n a re r u l ed by p r in c e s of their o w n

. , ,

a n d a re a s h o s ti l e to C h ri s ti a n i tv a s Tibet it s e l f Th e .

peop l e a re s u p e rs titi o u s a n d i g no r a nt a n d th e p rea c h in g ,

o f a foreign re l i g ion i s s tri c tl y pro h ibit e d w ithin c e rt a in

a re a s . In 1 9 1 4 S adhu S und a r S ingh e n tered Ne p a l

knowin g th a t h e ra n e v ery risk of ill -trea tment a n d
possibl y de ath Fo r s ome time ho we v er in s pite o f
.
, ,

op position a n d th r e a t s he w ent from p l a c e to p l a c e

,

p ub l i s h ing th e g oo d ne w s unti l h e c a me to a t o w n c a ll ed

l l om . He h a d not be e n the re l o n g w hen h e w a s t o l d

h e mu s t di sc ontinu e p r e a c hing or s ome e v i l w ou l d b e fa l l
him .

A n order wa s i ss u e d fo r hi s imp r i s o n m ent a n d w hi ls t ,

de l i v e r ing h i s m e ss ag e h e w a s s ei z ed a n d h u r r ie d o ff to
 F UR TH E R JO UR N E Y S A ND P E RS E C U T I O N S 55

th e c ommon priso n to spend hi s d a ys a n d nights w ith

,

murderer s a n d thieves Here wa s a n opportunit y for .

h i m to s pe a k for his M a ster a n d s oon he bega n to tel l

,

th e unh a pp y prisoners o f th e po w er o f Chri s t to ch a nge

men s hea rt s a n d to bring pe a c e to thei r c ons c ien c es e v en
’

w ithin th e di s m a l wa l ls of a prison M a n y belie v ed h is .

me ss a g e of j o y a n d a cc epted Chri s t a n d thus w ere the s e ,

fea rfu l d a y s c on v erted into s e a so n s of b l es s i n g both to

th e S adhu a n d to those w hom h e t a u g ht .

Th e n e w s th a t h e w a s ch a n g in g the he a rts of his

fe l l o w -prisoners w a s told in hi g h pl a c es a n d o n this ,

ch a rge S und a r w a s remo v ed from the priso n a n d t a ken

to the public m a rket for punishme nt Here he wa s .

stripp ed of his clothes a n d ma de to s i t on the ba re e a rth .

Hi s feet a n d h a nds w ere fa stened into holes i n upright

bo a rd s (s to c k s ) a n d in this c ri p pl ed position w ithout
, ,

fo o d or w ate r he w a s m a de to rem a in a ll d a y a n d the

,

fo ll o w ing nig ht To a d d t o his tortures a number of

.

lee c hes w e re th ro w n o v er his n a ked bod y a n d these ,

immedi a te l y fa stened upon him a n d bega n to suck h i s

life b l ood He ca rries the m a rks of this horrible tre a t
- .

ment to d a v so th a t of him it m a y be tru l y s a id

-
, I
b e a r in my bod y th e m a rks of th e Lord Jesus A .

moc kin g c ro w d stood round to w a t c h his tortu r e a n d ,

none offered him e v en a d r i n k o f w a ter to relie v e his

ph y s i c a l misery I n spe a kin g o f this experie n c e to the
.

w riter th e S adhu s a id I do not kno w h o w it wa s but

, ,

i n v he a rt w as so fu l l of
j o y I could n o t help singing a n d
”
pre a c hin g .

Through the l o n g night he a go n ized gro w i n g hourl y ,

w e a ke r w ith l oss o f blood but w hen morn ing c a me he

,
’
w a s sti ll a li v e W he n his persecutors sa w the S adhu s
.

t ra nqui l fa c e the y w ere fi l l ed w ith superstitious drea d ,

a n d bein
g sure th a t he he l d some stra n g e po w er the y
did not under s t a nd the y took him out of the sto c ks a n d
,
56 S AD H U S UN D A R S I N OH

set him free This dre a dful experie n ce h a d m a de him

.

so w e a k th a t he fell u n co n scious a n d o nl y a fter some

,

time a n d m a n y a ttempts did he m a n a ge to cra w l a w a y

from the spot In th a t pl a ce were some secret belie v ers
.

belo n gi n g to the S a n y asi Missio n (spo ke n of i n a l a ter

ch a pter ) a n d these ki n d people recei v ed their w ou n ded
brother a n d c a red for him until strength return ed .

’
The S adhu s brief record of his d a y s i n the prison o f
Ilom will be found i n a l a ter c h a pt er a n d a s in his c a se
, ,

it is to be e x pe c ted he a scribes his grea t j o y in th a t

,

dre a ry pl a ce to the n ea r comp a n io n ship of h is n ever

fa ili n g Fri end Jesus Chri st
, .

A t S rin a ga r in G a rhw a l h e h a d a most une x pected

,

experience He k n e w th a t this w a s a d a ngerous p la c e

.

in w hich to spe a k o f Christ but o n e d a y w hen he w a s

,

p r ea c h i n g outside the cit y some y oung m en t a u n ted

him by s a y ing he d a re n ot sa y su c h things inside the
c it y He felt impe l l ed to a ccept the ch a l l e n ge a n d
.
,

e n tering the cit y he w e n t to the m a rket pl a ce a n d there

sta rted to prea ch Upo n seei n g this some of the by
.

sta n ders hurried off to bri n g the p a ndit of the pl a ce ,

'

h O p i n g he w ould co nt rovert the S adhu s st a teme n ts a n d

put him to sh a me .

W he n the p a n dit a rri v ed he we n t up to S u n d a r a n d ,

i n fro n t of a ll the people he pl a ced his two fo refin g e rs

’
in the S adhu s mouth w ith the words I h a v e do n e ,

this to pro v e th a t w e a re brot h ers a n d n ot e n emies a s

,

y o u suppose for w e both believe i n J esus Christ a s

,
”
S a v iour
. The effec t upon the cro wd wa s e l ectrica l a n d ,

before m an v mi n utes h a d p a ssed a ll his enemies h a d

v a n ished a wa y S u n d a r t he n p a ss ed o n e of the h a ppiest
.

d a y s of hi s life i n co n versa tio n with t hi s good m a n ,

discoveri n g much to his j o y th a t the pa ndit o n l y p ro

, ,

longed his sta y in th a t d a rk p l a ce in ord er to bring others

’
to the light A l re a d y he h ad bv God s gra ce se cret l y
.
58 SAD HU S UN D A R S ING H

pra y er the tw o men retired to rest Very e a r l y n e x t

, .

morning the m a n a w oke S und a r a n d b r inging him out

,

side took him to a c a ve w he r e there w a s a g h a stl y hea p

,

of hum a n bones W ith loud w eeping he pointed to th e

.

bones a n d s a id , The s e a re m y s in s ; tell m e i s there

,
‘
a n y hope for s u c h a s me " Th e S adhu s h ea rt w a s
’

tou c hed by the m a n s a n x iet y a n d c ont r ition a n d h e

’
,

told him o f th e thief w h o w as forgi v en on th e c ro ss .

Then the y knelt together a n d th e po o r sinne r sobbed

o ut his repent a n c e to God Before the S adhu h a d
.

fin ished w ith h i m the m a n h a d m a de a st a rt on th e stra it

,

a n d n a rro w w a y a n d to g ether the y w ent to La bc h a

, ,

S a kkum where he wa s h a nded o v er to th e m i ss i o n a rie s

,

a n d e v e n tu a l l b a ptized T h e other three m e n a l so g a v e

y .

up their ba d life a n d took to honest o cc up a tion s Th u s .

w a s the s adhu used for the help of four g r e a t sinn e r s .

 CHA P TE R X VI

TI B E T

T HE Chumbi v a l ley on th e n orthern side of D a rj eeling

.

i s a n indes criba b l y lo v el y a n d seductive spot a n d is o n e,

of th e a ppro a ches to the b a rest a n d most inho s pit a ble

c ountry of A si a —Tibet .

Tibet h a s not a lwa y s bee n a c l osed l a n d Until the .

en d o f th e ei g hteenth c entury on l y ph y sic a l obst a cles

stood in th e w a y of entry i nto Lh a s a itself Je suits a n d
.

C a pu c hin s rea ch ed Lh a s a a n d m a de long st a y s there ,

a n d w ere e v en encour a g ed by the Tibet a n go v er n ment .

A s e a rl y a s 1 3 25 it is k n o w n th a t forei g ners v isited th e

c ountry but the first Europe a n s to reside in Lh a sa
,

a rr i v ed the r e in 1 66 1 .

Tw o c enturies a g o E u r ope a ns mi g ht tra v e l in remote

p a rts of A si a w ith gre a ter s afet y th a n is possib l e to -d a y ,

for n o w the w hite m a n inspi res fea r w here he used o n l y

to a wa ken c urio s it y . A t th e en d of the eighteenth
c e n tury the N epa lese o v erra n Tibet a n d the Chinese b e ing
,

c a ll ed in to a i d a lmost a nnihi la ted the Gurkh a s From

, .

th a t time Chin a pra cti c a l l y ru l e d in Lh a s a Th e po l icy

.

o f stri c t exclusion d a tes from then S ince th e decline

.

’
o f Chi n a s po wer a Tibeta n Mission to th e C z a r suppo s ed l
, y
,

of a re l igious c h a ra cter brought Tibet some w h a t u n der

,

the in fl uen c e of R ussi a S e v e r a l Bu r i a t l a m a s h a d been

.

edu c a ted in Ru ss i a c hief of whom w a s o n e D o rj i e ff w h o

, ,
60 S A D HU S UN D A R S IN G I I

he a ded the R usso -Tibeta n Mi s sio n of 1 901 D o rj i e ff a n d .

others in s pired dre a m s o f a conso l id a ted Buddhis t

reli g ion under th e spiritu a l c o n tro l o f th e D a l a i La m a
, ,

b ac ked bv the mi l it a ry po we r o f Iti l s s i a ; thi s wa s

belie v ed po ss ib l e b e c a u s e th e i g n o ra nt l a m a s im a g in e d
R u ss i a to be a Buddhi s t c o u n trv .

Tibet is a m y s t e riou s cou n try w ith a n a n cient bu t

a rrested c i v ili z a tion ; a l a n d w h e re p r a er fl a s fl utter
y g
in th e w i n d a n d where me n s p e n d h a lf th e ir tim e i n
,

turni n g m e c h a n i c al pra yer w heel s Th e p e o p le a re

.

medi aev a l i n g o v ern m e nt l Vi te h c ra l t i n c a nt a tio n s a n d

‘

.
, ,

ord ea ls by fi re a n d boi l in g a re s till c o mmo n The e ntire .

popul a t ion is o n lv a bout s i x mi l l ion s .

I n Lh a s a th e home o f th e Buddh a a n d the D a l a i La m a

, ,

i s a s u perbl v det a c hed bui l din g on a hi l l of ro c k c a l l ed

the Po t a l a It s m a s s i v e wa lls its t e rra c e s a n d ba stio n s
.
,

s t retch up wa rd from the pl a i n to the c rest a n d a re ,

cro wned w ith g litteri n g dome s shini n g w ith turquoi s e

a n d g old A t it s feet lie s th e s qu a l id c it y of Lh a s a
. .

Buddhi s m hold s a ll life s a cred yet thi s p l a c e where , ,

d wells the divine i n ca rn a tio n ha s w i t nessed more mu rder

,

”
th a n e v e n th e bloods ta ined c a st les o f med i az v a l Europe .

The Buddhist religion i s the o n e thi n g tha t k e e ps th e

n a tion together a n d e v ery fa mily must contribute o n e
,

son to th e priestl y order o f La m a s -Hu n dreds of ye a rs .

a g o a Buddhist sa in t predi c ted t h a t Tibet w ould o n e d a

y
be i n v a ded a n d c o n quered a n d Buddhism w ou l d be c ome
,

exti nct Thus it i s th a t a bli n d fea r a n d fa n a tici s m

.

combine to keep a ll doors o f e n tra n ce c losed to this

l a n d a n d the t ea c hi n g o f a foreig n religion m ore th a n
,

a n y thing e lse brings do w n o n th e he a d o f th e o ffender

the s e v e re s t persecution a n d e v e n t he most cru e l de a th

, .
 C HA P TER X VI I

SUND A R IN TI B E T— I

W he n I ca me to
pre a c h C h ri s t s g o spe l a do o r wa s ’
,

o
pe n e d u n to m e o f th e Lo rd (2 C”o r i i 1 2) a g re at do o r
. .

a n d th e re a e m a n y a dv e rsa r i es
r — 1 Co r xv i 9 . . . .

Th ei r fee t a re s wi ft to s h ed bl o o d a n d th e w a
y o f pe ac e
h v e th e y n o t k n o wn
a R o ma n s i i i 1 5 —
. 17 - . .

B o as a n d bred i n the fa r n orth a n d fa mili a r with th e

mounta inous regions of the Him a l a ya s S u n d a r s hea rt ,
’

tu r ned to the d a rk pl a ces where n o v isio n o f Christ h a s

co me .

Feeling a s he d o es a bout Christ it is not surprising th a t

he e v entu a ll y m ade c hoi c e of th e most di f ficult a n d
“
d a n g e rous fields w here Christ is not n a med a s his

peculi a r sphere It therefore seems quite a n a tura l

.

thin g th a t the mi n d o f S ad h u S und a r S ingh should h a v e

turn ed to the closed l a n d of Tibet soon a fter he set o u t
to prea ch the Gospel For more th a n a ce n tury the v a st
. .

c ontine n t of I n di a h a d h a d its mission a ries a n d hundreds ,

of t hous a nds of Indi a s childre n h a d respo n ded to the’

c a ll of Christ m a n y of whom in their turn h a d become

,

messengers o f pe ace to their own people In his ow n .

”
words There a re m a n y to procl a im the truth i n Indi a
, ,

but a s he tur n ed to wa rds Tibet a n d the co nt ig uou s

country of N epa l his he a rt we n t o u t t o the people wh o
,

h a ve no mea ns of hea ring of Christ .

02 SAD HU S U ND A R S l NG l I

Foreign mi s sio n a ries a re deba rred from enterin g the

cou n try a n d it is sca rce l y e a sier for a n Indi a n fo r h e
, ,

must not on l y fa ce the inhospita lit y of the bitter cl im ate ,

but the a ctive hostility o f a h a l f c i v i l i z ed a n d w h o llv

-

’
fa n a ti c a l people But to suffer for th e M a ste r s s a ke h a s
.

bee n a grea t m a rk of the life of S adhu S und a r S ingh a n d ,

so undism a yed by w h a t p roba bl y la y before him h e se t

, ,

out w hilst sti l l a bo y on his fi rs t j ourne y into th a t l a n d

of bigotry a n d d a rk n ess .

Ch ri st th e S o n o f Go d h a th se n t me
Th ro u g h th e m i d n i g h t l a n ds ,

M i n e th e mi g h ty o rd i na ti o n
O f th e pi e rc ed h a n ds.

U nfortu n a te l y th e S adhu h a s not kep t a n y connect e d

a cc ou n t of his w ork a n d j our n e s through Tibet so th a t
y ,

l ll there is to te l l is i th e sh a p e of fra gments of his

n
e x perie n ces ,
sufferings a n d successes in th a t fa sc in a ting
,

a nd e t terrible l a nd
y .

On his first j ourn ey in 1 908 when he w a s sca rce l y

,

n ineteen y ea rs o f a g e he st a rted a lone a n d w a s u n a c

,

u a i n ted w ith the l a ngu a ge spoken in Tibet He w a

q s .

v e ry g l a d to a v a i l him s elf of the he l p offe r ed to him by

two Mora v i a n mi s sion a ries working a t P0 0 a l itt l e ,

frontier to w n He sta yed a week w ith these good m e n

.
,

an d the n the y ga v e him a w orker of their o w n w h o w a s to

a ccomp a n y him for some dist a nce a n d instru c t him in

,

the di a l ect of th e peop l e Ex cept th a t h e kne w th e

.

intense hostility of the Tibeta ns to every re l igion but

their own the S adhu h a d little kno wl ed g e of p l a c e o r
,

people but it w a s not lo n g th a t he re ma ined in

,

ignora n ce .

He soon fou n d t hey rese n ted his te a c hing a n d ,

where v er he we n t he w a s met with bitter opposition

an d h at red especi a ll
, y from the La m a s These m en w ere .

p a rticul a rl y ve n om o us a n d often a ssumed a thre a te ni ng

,
 S UN D A R IN T I B ET— I 63

a ttitude o n the border o f the cro w ds th a t ga thered to

he a r his pre aching N ot w ithsta nding this he re a c hed
.
,

the import a n t to wn o f Ta shiga ng i n s a fet y a n d wa s ,

a stonished a n d ple a sed to recei v e kindl y tre a t me n t a t

the h a n ds of the hea d La ma o f the pl a ce This ma n wa s

.

a perso n of importa n ce an d u n der him ser v ed some

,

hundreds of i n ferior l a m a s .

The La m a not onl y recei v ed th e S adhu w ith ki n dness

but pro v ided him with food a n d she l ter an d a s th e ,

w e a ther wa s bi tterl y cold this hospita lit y wa s most

a c c epta ble
. Moreo v er the La m a c al l ed a ga thering of
’
those under his c ontrol to h e a r the S adhu s mess a ge ,

a n d so the Gospel w a s pre a ched b

y him w it h gre a t th a nk

fulness of he a rt .

Jo u rn e v i n g on from this pl a c e he wa s fo rtu n a te e n o u gh

to a rri v e a t a to w n under the rule of a n other La m a wh o
w a s a fr iend of th e La m a of Ta shiga ng a n d here a ga i n
,

h e w a s a c c orded a w e l come a n d a good he a ring From .

thi s p l a c e h e v isited severa l other to w n s a n d v i ll a ges but ,

i n these he m et w ith e v en gre a ter oppo sition th a n i n his

e a rl ier work He w a s const a n t l y thre a te n ed a n d wa rned
.

to g et out of the cou n try lest some e v il befa ll him But .

h e w a s not to be thus terrorized a n d h e c o n tinued his

,

w o rk a mid s t m a n y diffi c ulties .

Thus h a s S adhu S und a r S ingh besieged thi s stro n g

”
ho l d o f bi g otry a n d fa n a ticism a n d in doing so h a s
,

p a s s ed through m a n v tribul a tio n s ; but to him p erse c u

tion a n d infa m y a re a s nothin g if he m a y w i n but o ne
soul fo r hi s S a v iou r A Cey l on fr iend sa y s
. His resolu
,

tion to w a l k ba r efooted a midst th e perpetua l sno w s of

Ti be t is the m a rk o f his in v in c ib l e det ermi n a tion to
”
b r ing m e n to Christ .
 CHA P TER X VI I I

S UND A R IN TI B E T— I I

Fo r th e wo rk o f Ch rist h e was nig h u n to dea th , no t reg a rd i ng

”—
hi s l
i fe Ph i
. l . ii . 30 .

I a m rea dy no t to be bo un d o nl y , bu t a ls o to d i e fo r th e
na me o f th e Lo rd Jesu s .
” —A cts xx i . 13 .

W I TH deep det ermi n a tio n to m a ke the n a me o f Christ

a

k n ow n i n this hostile country the S adhu conti n ued h is

work k n owi n g t h a t soo n er or l a ter bitter persecutio n
,

would be his lot A t a to w n c a l led R asar he wa s .

a rrest ed a n d a rra ign ed before the he a d La m a on the

ch a rge o f e n teri n g the country an d prea chi n g t he Gospel

of Chris t He wa s fou n d guilt y a n d a midst a cro w d
.
,

of ev il -disposed pe rsons he was led a way to t h e pl a ce

o f executio n The two fa vourite fo rms o f ca pit a l
.

pu n ishment a re bei n g se w n up i n a w et y ak skin a n d put

ou t i n th e su n u n til de a th e n ds the torme n t or bei n g ,

ca st i nto the depths of a d ry w ell the t op bei n g firml y ,

fa stened o v er the he a d of the cul p rit Th e la tter wa s .

chose n fo r the S adhu .

A rrived a t the pl a ce he wa s s t ripped of h is clothes ,

a n d c a st i n to the d a rk depths of this gh a stl ch a r n el

y
house w ith such vio l ence th a t his right arm wa s inj ured .

M a n y others h a d go n e do w n this s a me we l l before him

n ever t o return a n d he a l ighted on a ma ss o f hum a n
,

bo n es an d rotting flesh A n y de a th seemed pre fe r a ble .

66 SAD HU S UN D A R S IN G H

wa s fou n d o n his own girdle he wa s speech l ess w ith

,

a m a zeme n t a n d fe a r
. He then ordered S u n d a r to l e a v e
th e cit y a n d get a w a y a s fa r a s possible lest his po werfu l
,

Go d should bri n g some untold disa ster u po n himself a n d

his people Thus wa s S u n d a r deli v ered from a fe a rfu l
.

dea th a n d pra i s ed
,
for interposing o n his beh a lf .
 CHA P TE R XI X

F U R TH E R E X PE R I E N C E IN TI B E T

Mo st g l a dl y wi ll I ra th e r g l o ry i n my i n fi rmi ti e s th a t
th e
po wer o f C h ri st m a y rest u po n me Th e re fo re . I ta e k pl s r
ea u e
i n pe rsec u ti o n s i n d i s tress e s fo r Ch ri s t s s a ke
’
, .
-
2 Co r i x 1 0
. . .

Dr . Fosdick in his , f the Ill u ster s a y s

Jl a n ho o d o ,

Jesus ma d e th e r i g ht a ttitu d e to wa rd ho st i l e m e n not a

neg ati v e refra ining from v eng ea n ce bu t a p os i ti v e s a v iou r
,

h o od th at pr ay s fo r them bl e ss e s the m a n d sac ri fi c i a lly s ee k s

, , ,

thei r g oo d .

This i s the a ttitude of sfi t S u n d a r S ingh in a ll his

w o r k a n d l ife of suffe r ing a mongst the peop l es o f Tibet
a n d other hosti l e sta tes to w hom he c a rries the Gospe l

o f Christ In the c ourse of his a ddres s es he sometimes

.

gi v e s illustra tions from hi s o wn e x perien c es In spe a king .

”
o n t he text He tha t loseth hi s l ife sh a ll s a ve it h e
, ,

told this a m a z ing story He w a s o n e d a y m a king a

.

j ourney a cross some mount a in s i n Tibet on a bitterl y

c o l d d a y whe n sno w w a s fa l l ing Both he a n d a Tibet a n
.

c omp a nion wh o w a s tra v e l l ing w ith him w ere a lmost

fro zen to de a th a n d desp a ired o f re a c hing their j ourney s
,
’

en d a l i v e Th ev c a me to a deep precipi c e to find a m a n

.

l y ing there a pp a rentl y de a d S und a r suggested the y .

.

shou l d c a rry him to a pl a ce o f s a fet y but the Tibet a n ,

dec l ined s a y ing it w a s a ll the y c ou l d do to get i n to

,
68 S A D HU S UN D A R S IN G H

sa fet y themselves a n d he pa ssed on h is w a y W ith

, .

di ffi cult y the S adhu lifted th e ma n o n his ow n b a c k ,

a n d be g a n to stru g g le for wa rd w ith his he a v y lo a d So o n .

th e ex e rtion brou g ht w a rmth to him a n d communic a ted ,

it self to th e helple s s bod y o v er his shoulders He h a d .

not g one very fa r w hen h e o v ertook his Tibet a n com

pa nion w h o h a d fa l l en stone-dea d a c ro s s the p a th E v e n
,
.

tu a lly S und a r a rri v ed a t th e vil l a ge by w hich time th e ,

h a lf-dea d m a n h a d reco v ered c o n scious n ess a n d the y ,

both th a nked God for li v e s sn a tched from the j aw s o f

dea th The S adhu s a id h e h a d n ever k n o w n a better
.

pra c ti c a l expo sition of th e w o rds W hosoever will s a v e ,

hi s life sh a ll lo s e it a n d w ho soe v er w i l l lo se his life for

,
”
My s a ke sh a ll find it .

On a nother o c c a s ion the S adhu h a d be e n climbing

o v er rough cra gs w he n h e c a me to a ca v e in which he
s a w a m a n pra in g In order th a t he should not fa ll
y .

a sl e e p the ma n h a d tied hi s long h a ir to the roof of the

a n d w ith c los e d e y es he stro v e hour b

c ave , y hour to
medit a te a n d pra y S und a r e n tered the c a v e a n d a sk ed
.

th e m a n w h y h e wa s thus suffering Like m a n y others .

thi s m a n h a d spent mo s t of his l ife i n w orld l y pu rs uits ,

but deep do wn in hi s mind there w a s a h a unting fea r of a

dre a dful u n k n o w n future This a t lengt h dro v e him .

to forsa ke the w orld a n d h e h a d come to this remote s pot

,

in th e hope of finding s a tisfa c tion in pra y erful medit a

ti o n He expl a ined th a t no re l i ef h a d c ome to hi s spirit
. .

Th e S adhu ope n ed his Test a ment a n d re a d to him su c h

“
w ord s a s Come unto Me
, a nd I wi l l g i v e yo u
”
re st.

He proceeded to exp l a in th e true w ay through J e s us

Chri s t S pellbou n d th e poor fello w listened to th e
.

w o n derfu l w ord s a n d a t l a s t h e j umped up c ry ing out

, ,

No w i s m y s ou l a t re s t m a k e m e Hi s di sc ip l e l e a d m e ,
”
to Him He begged h a rd fo r immedi a te ba pti s m a t th e
.
 F UR TH E R E X P E RI E N C E IN T I B ET 60

S adhu s h a n d but was persu a ded to a ccomp an y him t o

’
,

t he n e a re st missio n st atio n where h e wa s left i n th e ca re

,

o f th e missio n a ries for further i n structio n .

S u n d a r tells of a n other pl a c e w h ere his m e ss ag e h ad

me t wi t h grea t h ostilit y an d th e people were co n vert ed
i nto frie n d s by a n a ccide n t He wa s climbi n g a s t e ep
.

mou n ta i n whe n h e slipped a n d fell a n d i n his fa ll a l a rge

,

sto n e wa s displ a ced a n d rolled o v er the precipitous cliff

o n to a p la c e be n e a th It h a ppe n ed th a t j us t w here t he
.

s to n e fell a huge cobra wa s l y ing a n d wa s immedia tel y,

kill ed A bo y who wa s herdi n g ca ttle sa w wh a t h a d

.

h a ppe n ed a n d ra n t o t ell the S adhu expl a i n i n g t h a t this

, ,

very sn ake h a d bee n the c a u se of some dea ths i n t he

vill a ge so th at n obod y d a red to p a ss a lo n g th a t ro ad
, .

Then he ra n to tell the v il l a gers wh o were so impressed

,

a n d so gra teful th a t t he
y welcom ed t h e S adhu a nd here ,

he ha d th e blessed privilege o f m a ki n g k n ow n the love

of Chri st t o the ign ora n t people .

Tm: FEET TH A T B LE D .

T he rough mou n t a i n tra ck h a d torn his feet a n d ,

S unda r sa t do w n to b a n d a ge th e wou n ds A no t her m a n .

tra v ers i n g t he s a me ro a d a n d seeing w h a t h a d h a ppe n ed

stopped to a sk him h o w he felt The y e n tered into .

c o n vers ation a n d th e stra n ger le a rnt h o w t h a t S u n d a r

,

for his Ma ster s s a ke d ay by d a y w a lked m a n y wea ry

’

miles to te a ch people of Him whose fee t h a d bled o n

C a l v a ry The two me n he l d s wee t co n verse t ogether
.
,

for he fou n d th a t his comp a n ion Ta shi by n a me wa s , ,

an ea rn es t seeker a fter s a l v a tion But in his quest .

for truth he wa s perple x ed w ith m a n y doubts a n d ,

the s e the S adhu tried to sol v e Ta shi a fterwa rds sa id

.

to him , Looking a t y our bleedi n g feet somethi n g

within me seemed to say there must be some gre a t power
70 S AD HU S UND A R S I N GH

behind t his h a ppy l ife of self-den i a l A n d so T a sh i

.

urg ed S und a r to rem a i n w ith him a n d he spent more ,

th a n a w eek a t h i s house in structing him a n d pra y i n g

w ith him .

Ta shi t he n sent him o n to a La m a w h o wa s frie n dl y

with him an d kindly disposed to Christi a n ity W he n .

he retur n ed he fou n d Ta shi fu l l o f hope a n d h a ppi

n ess fo r he h ad found Christ a n d n ow nothi n g but
, ,

b a ptism would s a tisfy him A ll doubts were gon e a n d

.
,

Ta s hi a n d his fa mil y begged th a t they might n o w recei v e

ba ptism S o before l ea v ing S und a r h a d the grea t j o y
.
,

o f b a pti z ing Ta s hi an d his w hole famil y— n ine persons in

a ll
. Bei n g chief secreta ry to the La m a o f t h e district
an d a m a n o f impo rta n ce Ta shi h a s n ot bee n c a lled
,

u po n to suffer for his fa ith bu t he is u n der stric t orders

,

n ot to pers u a de others t o follow his e x a mp l e o r in a n y

w a y to prop ag ate th e n ew fa ith .

M a n y a time a n d o ft s adhu S u n d a r S ingh feels th e

lone l iness of soul th a t must come to a ll w hose entire
l ives a re gi v en to spiritu a l thi n gs Extreme ex a lta tion
.

of spirit a ccompa n ied w ith treme n dous expe n di ture of

n ervous po w er must be follow ed by mome n ts of rea ction .

Ordi n a ry mission a ries a n d mi n isters m ay fi n d respite

in ch a n ge of occupa tion but not so the S adhu His
, .

ch a n ges a re o f pl a ce n o t of work D a y by d ay his .

un w ea ried sea rch for soul s continues a n d w hether in ,

th e chur c hes a n d con v entions of Christi a n s o r a mongst

the n o n -Christi a n peoples the stra in n e v er rela x es A .

missio n a ry rightl y s a id o f him i n Tra v a ncore He must ,

”
li v e very nea r to God to sta nd it an d th a t is the t r ue
,

s ecret of his being a ble to c ontinue N e v er imp at ie n t

.
,

ne v er too w ea ried to meet people wh o seek him a l wa y s ,

gra cious a n d rea d y night or d a y for the t a sks th a t fa l l

,

to him he is a l i v ing c opy of his Ma s ter S h a ri n g his

, .

’
M a ster s spirit he a lso sh a res His lo n eli n ess S pea ki n g .
 F I R THE R
'

EX P E RI EN C E IN T I B ET 71

of such a time a s this h e tells of a d a y w he n h e wa s

unusu a ll y tired hu n gry a n d foo t sore Ut terl y dej ected
, , .
,

he wa s pa infull y trudgi n g a long whe n h e w as j oi n ed by

a m a n w h o entered i n to con v ersa t io n w ith him a n d so ,

led him out of himself th a t he forgot his misery in the

c h a rming comp anionship of his n ew frien d Th ey w e n t .

o n together u n til they ca me cl o s e to a v ill a ge when ,

mu c h to the S adhu s perturb a tio n h e fou n d himself once

’

more a lone He c an not e x pl a i n it bu t his o wn words

.
,

a re
, I n ow kn ow th a t it wa s a n a n gel of the Lord se n t
”
to stren g the n an d uphold m e i n my h o u r o f we a kness
'

.
 CHA P TER XX
M A R T YR S o r THE FA IT H

Th e bl o o d o f th e m a rtyrs i s th e se e d o f th e Ch u rc h
.

He l ai d do wn Hi s l i fe fo r u s ; and we o u g h t to la y d o wn
li v es fo r th e breth re n (1 Jo h n i i i .

SA D H U S U ND A R S I N GH
is in the grea t successio n o f
n oble me n who h a ve climbed the steep a sce nt o f
”
h ea ve n a n d duri n g his soj ourn s i n Tibe t h e h a s come
,

a cross w e ll -a u t he n tic a t ed c a ses o f the m a rtyrdom o f

godly me n w h o h a ve pre ceded him i n ca rry i n g t h e Go spel
messa ge t o tha t d ark l a n d St ra n gely e n ough the first
.

of t hese m a rty rs ca me from the S ta t e o f Pati a l a w here

he himself wa s bo rn Ka rta r S i n gh wa s a S ikh a n d t he
.

so n of a rich za mi n d a r A ll t he hopes of the fa mil y

.

were c en tred i n this bo y for th ere were n o ot her so n s to

,

c a rry o n th e n a me Like S und a r he wa s bro ught up i n

.

the mids t of lux ury a n d prep a ra tio n s for h i s future

,

were ma de by gi v i ng him the bes t educ a t io n po ssible .

Nothi n g was forgot t e n t h a t could m a ke his tra i n ing

’
comple t e for the fu lfilment o f his fa ther s a mbitions for
the bo y Bu t i n spi t e of the utter n eglec t o f religio n i n
.

h is educa tio n there grew up i n his mi n d a desire a fter

,

spiritu a l thi n gs w hich his secul a r tra in i n g could n ot

s a tisfy He hea rd of Chris t i a n ity a n d little by little got
.
,

to kn ow a n d u nders ta n d its cla ims u n til a deep c o n v i c ,

74 S AD H U S UN D A R S INGH

The Buddhism of Tibet h a s n o pl a ce for Christ w hose ,

very n a me a rouses the deepest feeli n gs o f h a tred an d

oppositio n No record rem a ins th a t Ka rta r met w it h
.

mu c h person a l kind n ess o r th a t his messa ge wa s a ccep t ed ,

but no thought of going ba ck seems to h a ve o ccurred

to his mind These people were w ithout Chris t an d
.

h a d need of Him an d a s Christ h a d give n His life so

, ,

K a rt a r wa s prepa red to s a crifi ce his l ife a lso th a t a t ,

le a st his wit n ess shou ld be borne a n d his lo v e testified to

before his persecutors A lthough he a rts w ere touch ed by
.

the sight of his youth a n d the ferv o ur of his mess a ge ,

th e re w a s litt l e coura ge t o t a ke his p a rt a n d it w a s on l y

,

a fter his de a th th a t the fruit of h i s l a bours a n d testimo n y

c a me to light .

K a rta r sa w a s our S a v iour did before him th a t the

, ,

thorn y p a th could onl y e n d in one w a y I n spite of .

numerous efforts to d r i v e him o u t of the country he ,

c ontinued his prea ching in m a n y pl a ces fo r some time ,

but ev en tu a ll y h e w a s h a led before th e La m a of Tsi n g

h a m a n d c h a rged w ith un l a w fu l l y e n tering th e cou n try
w ith intent to tea ch a foreign religion The end he h a d
.

looked forwa rd t o h a d c ome an d w ith u n d a unted coura ge

,

h e fa c ed the i n evita ble trusting to God to gi v e him the

,

necessa ry gra c e to witness to his fa ith to the end A s .

S und a r a fterwa rds he a rd K a rt a r he a rd his se n tence

,

w ithou t a quiver a n d with firm step t u rn ed a w a y from

,

the j udgment sea t to w a lk to the pl a ce of executio n .

On the way he delivered his l a st messa ge urgi n g o n ,

th e c ro w d the n e c essit y of seeki n g sa l v a tio n through

Jesus Christ a n d one a t lea st of those who hea rd hi s
,
'

words remembered them a n d t hrough them fou nd the

,

S a v iour
.

A rri v ed a t the pl a c e of e x ecution Ka rt a r wa s stripped

of a ll his c lo th es a n d w a s se w n up i n a w et y a k skin
'

w hi c h w a s then put out in the sun A cr uel mocking

.
 M A R T YR S OF THE FA I TH 75

c row d stood a bout to wit n ess his tortures a n d as the skin ,

shr a nk a n d tightened ro u n d him they la ughed to he a r

th e bones cra cki n g in the slo w p r o c ess of dea t h B y his .

side on the ground la y the N ew Test a me n t th a t h a d

bee n his one a n d onl y comfort through the h a rd d a y s
th a t h a d fo ll owed his confession of his M a ster U nheeded .

i t lay unti l on the third d a y whe n K a rt a r k n ew the e n d ,

wa s dr a w ing on h e a sked th a t his right h a nd might be

,

set free for a moment Thi s wa s do n e prob a bl y more

.
,

from curiosity t h a n mer c y Co l l ecting a ll his strength .

K a rt a r wrote his l a st mess a ge on the fl y leaf o f his Test a

ment In Persi a n c h a ra cter
.

J an K h w ah a m a z Kh u d a na y a k e ba lk i s ad h a zar ,

T a sad h a zar bar ba m i ram brae y ar .

K h as ra w a d ar i s h q au ka m tarz i H in d u z an m u bash ,
K i in b rae m u rd a s a z a d z in d a j an i K h w esh ré .

I n Urdu ch a ra cter
J an de d i di h ii i usi ki thi ha qq to y i h h a i , ki h a qq ada
na mm .

In En gl i s h
Is this a d eath -bed wher e a C h r isti a n l ies
Yes bu t not h i s ; ti s d eath i t s el f the re d ies
,
’
.

Tra n sl a tion
From G od I l i fe bes oug ht not on c e bu t a hun dr ed thous a n d
,

times ,

Th at to that Fri en d a g ai n as o ft I mig ht retu r n it .

Th at l ov e fo r Him K h asrawa sh a ll not be l ess th a n he rs

, ,

The fa ith fu l H in d u w i fe ,

W h o on the bu r ning p y r e dr a w s to h e r hea rt the l o v e d one ,

A n d l a y s h e r l i fe be s i d e him .

The l i fe He g a v e to me w as w h a t I g a v e to Him
True i s i t th a t thoug h I d i d a ll y et a ll I c ou ld not d o , .

No cr
y of a nguish es c a p ed the bra v e l ips ,
but as
76 S AD H U S UN D AR S I XG I I

e v e n ing ca me o n K a rt a r ga ve th a nk s a loud to God for

c omfort i n dea th a n d quietl y p a ssed a wa v w ith th e
,

w ords , Lord Jesus recei v e m y spirit , .

S adhu S und a r S ingh fou n d th a t K a rta r s fa ther w a s

'

stil l a live a n d upo n his ret ur n to th e p l a ins h e s ou g ht

,

the old m a n out Telli n g him the sto rv of the de a th of

.

his he ro ic son a n d spe a ki n g of th e gre a t lo v e o f Chri s t

th a t h a d borne him through the o l d m a n li stened w i t h ,

a so ftened he a rt a n d S und a r h a d th e j o y
,
of hea ri n g
him sa y ,
I to o belie v e i n Him
, ,
.

A mong s t th e cro wd w h o wa t c h ed th e p a s s ing o f

K a rta r S i n gh w a s the c hief secret a ry o f the La m a o f
Tsi n g h a m He notic ed th e little T e s t a m en t in whi c h
.

this hero o f the cross h a d w ritte n his l a s t mes sa ge a n d ,

t a ki n g it up h e c a rried it home a n d commen c ed to stud y

it. th e memory still fre s h i n his mind o f th e w ord s
a n d conduct o f a bra v e m a n his he a rt wa s open to ,

receive th e m e ss ag e the Book h a d for him a n d in r eadi n g ,

it there c a me n e w light a n d j o y to him For s ome time .

he pondered the wonderful thin g s h e n o w be l ie v ed but , ,

a s the re a li za tion of them more a n d more filled hi s soul ,

he c ould n o lo n ger keep his secret a n d o n e d a y re v ea l ed ,

t o his m a ster th e La m a th a t h e h ad g iven his he a rt to

, ,

Jesu s Th e La m a then dec l a red th a t h e a l s o mu s t d i e

. .

Pi ti le ss lv h e w a s j ud g ed a n d s ent e n c ed to th e s a me
de a th a s K a rt a r Ly ing in th e w e t y a k s kin in th e sun
.

w a s not cruel e n ough to tea c h th e on l ooker s th a t thi s

so rt o f thing if pe rs i sted in w ould a dd to th e bitt e r
pu n ishment so red -hot ske w er s w ere thru s t i nto his
,

bod y to in c re a se his a gonies A s if his tormentors w ere .

w ea ry of wa iti n g for th e ine v it a ble e n d h e wa s then ,

t a ken out of th e s kin a rope w a s tied round hi s mu t il a t e d

,

bod y a n d h e w a s d rag g ed through th e st reet s of th e

,

to w n splinters of wood a l s o being dri v en under th e

,

n a ils of his feet a n d h a nd s His bo d v wa s then thro w n

.
 MA R TYR S OF THE FA ITH 77

o n to a dust h e a p ou t side the t o w n a n d h e was left fo r

dea d .

H a vi n g sa ti s fi ed their lust for re v e n ge his pers ecutors

dep a rt ed a n d for long h e lay u n co n scious Very
, .

gra du a lly the poor fellow c a me ba c k t o life a n d li t tl e ,

by lit tle stre n gt h return ed u n til he w as a ble to cra w l

a wa y . W he n h e h ad reco v ered from his m a n y wou n ds ,

grea t fea r ca me upo n th e people to see him whom t hey

h ad left for de a d a li v e a n d w ell a ga i n a n d to t h is d ay ,

n o o n e d a res to i nterfere with him S u p ersti ti o n s dre a d

.

o f a supern a t ura l power the y believe him to possess ,

preve nt s a ttempts to ta ke his life so t h a t whe n S ad h u

,

S u n d a r S i n gh hea rd from his lips the story of Ka rta r ,

h e a lso hea rd h o w w o n drousl y God e n a bles this bra v e

m an to c ontinue pre a ching Ch rist bold l y a mong the
people of Tibet .

These a n d other histories like them S ad hu S und a r

S i n gh h as himself ga thered duri n g his missio n a ry j our n ey s
t hrough d a rkest Tibet a n d o th er regio n s where the light
of th e Gospel h as sca rcel y pierc ed To the peopl e of .

these be n igh t ed cou nt ries his ge nt le hea rt turn s wi th

i n fi n ite lo n gi n g a n d pity a n d his bur n i n g zea l for Chris t
,

a n d desire t o m a ke Him kno w n con v ince h m th a t there

,
i “
his a ppoi nt ed ta sk lies He s a ys
. This is t he field
,

which God h a s give n me t o work i n I h ave hea rd His .

ca ll t o serve Him i n t hese host ile provi n ces I a m n o t .

a fra id of t he risks . I h a ve t o w i n the crow n o f m a rt y r

”
d o m by l a y i n g do w n my life i n t hese p a rt s for Him .

Th a t S u n d a r S i n gh m a y be used o f Go d to bri ng
Gospel light to the people of these da rk pl a ces is t he
pra y er of those wh o k n o w love a n d re v ere him Bu t
, , .

n o n e c an pra y w ithou t e a rn estl y ple adi n g with God to

spa re his w onderful life tha t ra ther by l a bo urs more
,

a bund a n t th a n by the supreme sa crifice he ma y serve

his M a s ter a n d his ge n eratio n .
 CHA P TE R XXI

S UND A R
’
s My srrersm

THE stud y o f a c h a ra cter like th a t of S adhu S und a r

S ingh c a nnot fa il to be b oth i n teresting a n d instructi v e ,

for in a m a teri a li s tic a g e he is a m a n u ntou c hed bv

m a teri a l ism Mr K J S a u n ders in the A dven tu res of
. . . .
,

the C h ri sti a n S o u l s a y s
,

M y s ti c i s m is the p assiona te sea rch o f the so u l in l o v e w ith

G od a n d the cl a i m th a t th i s s ea rch h as be en r ew a rd e d
,

Th e m y s ti c c ons c iousne ss i s m a rk ed by s i m pl e cl e a r a n d, ,

i nsistent i d eas . Pos sess ing G od the m ys ti c d e s i r e s

,

nothing mo re . The p a ss i on ate l o v e a r ou s e d i n the hea rt

by C h ri s t expl a in s h i s cl ea r i ns i g ht into sp i ritu a l thing s ,

a n d the ten a c it y o f hi s p u rs uit o f l o fty i d ea ls .

Thus is S und a r S i n gh a true Christi a n m y sti c a n d ,

so close l y h a s he studied the life of Christ a s it is w ritten

i n the N e w Test a ment a n d so consta ntl y h a s he imita ted
,

His e x a mple th a t n a tura l l y he lives in a n a tmosphere

,

o n ly n o w a n d then enj o y ed by the ordin a ry Christi a n .

His wa n dering life of poverty i n a country like Indi a

bri n gs e n dless opport u n ities of recogn i z ing his Fa ther s
'

ha n d i n a ll t hi n gs so th a t ofte n w here others w ou l d se e

,

o n l y the commo n mercies o f d a il y life the S adhu pra ises

G od fo r speci a l help i n speci a l n eed He is fa mili a r .

wit h the deepes t a g o ny o f sou l an d w ith the most i n ten se

o
j y . N igh t s o f pra y er a l t er n a te w ith lo n g d a y s of toil
 S UN D A R S
’
M YS T I C IS M 79

for his Lord Close a n d pra y erful stud y of the N e w

.

Testa ment is c om bined w ith equ a l l y c l ose communio n

w ith Christ A y ea r nin g de s ire to s a v e l ost sou l s th a t
.

gi v es him no respite from his l a bou r s is b a l a n c ed by a

deep de v otio n a n d love for his S a v iour th a t fi ll s his he a rt
with pea ce a n d sh ines in his fa ce The things of the
,
.

spiritu a l life a re more rea l to him th a n those o f the

tempora l S o n ea r does he li v e to the grea t world o f
.

s pirits th a t to him there is nothing stra nge in the mi n istry

of a ngels He l ooks upon it a s God s pro v isio n for a
.
’

re a t need a n d w hen in his o w n experience some u n usu a l

g ,

e v ent h a s come to p a ss he simpl y belie v es th a t Go d

ca res enough for th e indi v idu a l sou l to interpose o n its
beh alf The m y steries of life a n d dea th a n d the gre a t
.

beyond bring n o distress o r doubt to his mind a n d he ,

does not pu zz le the minds of his he a rers w ith them .

But deep do w n i n his co n temp l a ti v e mi n d they hold

their pla c e a n d a re a sour c e of infinite sa tisfa ctio n to
,

him .

The m a r v el l ous record s of some of the S adhu s ex p eri ’

e n c es h a ve preceded him i n most pl a ces he h as vi si t ed .

M a t t er-o f-fa ct people h a ve bee n prej udiced by t hem ,

a n d emotio n a l o n es h a v e looked or revel a t io n s a n d eve n ,

for mira c les performed by him "et o n e a n d a ll a fter

.
,

seeing a n d he a rin g him h a ve been str uck by his sa n e

,

te a c hing a n d well -ba l a nc ed mind .

His o wn versio n o f the del i v era n ces he h a s h a d fa lls

s o n a tura l l y from his lips th a t it sounds like the stra ight
“
forw a rd simp l e st a tement o f a se c ond A cts o f th e
”
A postles . I n rel a ti n g these e x perie n ces sadhu S u n d a r ,

S i ngh s a y s th a t God h a s stretched forth His h a n d to

sa v e w hen n othi n g e l se could a v a i l This is the simples t
.

e x p l a n a tion i n view of the fa ct th a t for so lo n g a n d ,

under su c h sign a l di ffi culties a n d d a n gers the S ad hu h as

.
,

worked i n t h e clos e d l a n ds of Tib et a n d N ep a l .

80 S AD H U S UN D A R S I NG H

In ciden ts such as th e followin g show th e spirit in

w hich the S adhu ta k es his deli v eran ces On o n e occ asio n
.

he was prea chi n g i n a vill age of Ne pa l cal led Kh antzi ,

w here co n sidera ble oppositi o n w as bei n g sho wn The .

v ill a gers se ized h im an d ro ll i n g hi m up i n a bl a n ket

, ,

hust led hi m o u t of th e pl a ce but a stra nger pa s sing by

,

took h is pa rt an d relea sed him The d a y follo w i n g be

.

w as a gai n pre a chi n g i n th e sa me pl a c e an d thi s so ,

a ngered the vill a gers th a t th e y took him a n d bound him

by hi s h an ds a n d feet to a t ree an d le ft him there S lo wly .

the d a y w ore o n a n d bein g fa int for w a n t of food he

,

looked lo n gi n gl y a t th e fruit o n the tree j ust out of rea ch .

I n th a t st rai n ed po siti o n he a t l a st fell a sleep from

e x h a u st ion I n the morn ing he a w oke to find to hi s
.

a m a zeme n t th a t his bo n ds w ere loosed He w a s l y ing a t

.

th e foot of the t ree a n d by hi s side la y some fruit He .

t h e n pra ised God for the suffering he h a d e n du red for

Ch rist s sa ke a te the fruit wi th tha nkful n ess of hea rt
’

, ,

a n d w ent o n hi s w ay fill ed wi th fres h cou ra ge to preac h

the w ord to th ose w h o kn ow it n ot .

On a n other occa sio n w he n he was in a pl a ce ca lled

Teri some me n told him th a t in a certa in v i l lage th e
people w ere a n xious to hea r the Gospel an d the y ga v e him
,

i n structio n s a s to the wa y he should ta ke Follo w i n g the .

direc t io n s he w a n dered o n for a lo n g time through m a rsh y

j u n gl y co un t ry bu t w ithou t see i n g an y sign s of a v ill age
, .

The u n dergro wth grew t h icker an d prese ntl y he

,

disco v ered he was los t i n a j ungle from w hich there

seemed n o esc a pe A rri v ed a t a stre a m he thought th a t
.

by c rossing it he might fi n d a w a y out but o n steppi n g ,

into the w a ter he fou n d the current so strong th a t a n y

a ttempt to c ro ss it w ould e n d a nger his life E v eni n g .

w as cl osing i n a n d i n a dej ected fra me of mind he sa t

,

do wn by the strea m to co n sider w h a t ne x t to do Li ste n .

i n g to the w eird sou n ds of the j u n g l e a n d wa tchi n g the

,
82 S A D HU S UN D A R S IN G H

attempt ing a n y e x p l a n a tion the S adhu a ccept s his

deli vera n ces with a th a nkful mi n d a s coming from God .

He simpl y sa y s ,
I kno w the Lord h a s stretched forth
His o wn h a n d to sa ve me an d whether su c h delivera nc es

a re wrought by hum a n a genc y o r otherwise he is sure l y

,

ri ght i n a scribi n g them to the ca re o f a lovi n g hea v enl y

F a ther.
 CHA P TER XXI I

LOVE
’
THE S a D HU s F O R THE C RO S S

I a m cru ci fi ed
w i th Ch ri st w h o l o v ed me , an d g a v e
Hi msel f -fo r me (Gal i i . .

B u t G o d fo rbi d th at I s h o u ld g l o ry , s a v e i n th e c ro ss o f th e
Lo rd J e s u s Ch ri s t, by wh o m th e wo rld i s cru c i fi ed u n to m e , a n d I
u n to th e wo rld (Ga l v i . .

THE gre a t t heme o f a ll S adhu S u n d a r S ingh s pre a ching ’

is Christ The c ro ss of Christ is the centr a l figure to

.

which he dr aws a ll me n for there he himself found ,

pe a ce an d so c a n spe a k w ith a uthority o f the po w er o f

,

th a t c ro ss to s ave others The most freq u ent w ords o n

.

his lips a re w ords t a ken from his o w n e x perie n ce I ,

c a n sa y w ith confidence th a t the cross wi l l be a r those

wh o be a r th e cross u n ti l th a t cross sh a l l lift them into

,
”
the presence of the S a v iour .

A s a Muh a mm a d an s a id l a te l y t o a mission a r y w h o
h a d been re l a ting to him the story o f th e cross If yo u ,

present t h a t sto ry to Indi a a s y o u h a v e to me Indi a w i l l ,

”
a c c ept it . Thus h a s th e S adhu fou nd the he a rt of Indi a ,

a n d he p r esents to it th e one a n d on l y s a ti s fa ction for its

sou l hunger— Jesus a n d His Cross He p r esents it i n the .

N e w Test a ment wa y a n d his l ife of utter se l f-a bnega tion

,

a n d s a cr ifi c e enfor c es his te a c hing w hi l e his o w n intense,

p erson a l j o y in the S a viour c ommends it a s n othing e l s e

cou l d The c ro s s implies suffering an d to be like his
.
,
84 S S N I G] "

Lord is th e o n e d e s i re o f th e S z i d h u . He w ro te in an

a uto r a ph book
g
So g re at th e jo y I ha e v i n Li g h t
Th a t e v v rr er s d el g h t
so o w b ri n g i .

mi s sio n a ry in J a pa n a s k ed th e S ai d h u w h e t h e r h e
s ti l l wa nd e re d a bo u t I n d i a h u n g ry a n d h o m e l e ss a s h e
h a d done in th e b e g i n n i n g o f hi s Chri s t i a n m i n i s t r y a n d .

w a s str u c k by t h e r e p l y : N o n o w i n I n d i a t h e y kn o w
,

m e a n d if I g o to a to w n th e y h a v e th o u s a n d s o f p e o p l e
,

to h e a r m e in a big h a ll T h i s i s n o t th e w a y o f th e
.

Cro ss fo r th a t I m u s t g o to Ti bet .

s u rr o u n d e d by a l mo s t a do r i n g c ro w d s i n
Tri v a n d ra m hi s o n e g r i e f w a s th a t th i n g s w e re s o
,

c omforta b l e th a t h e w a s n o t s u ffe ri n g fo r hi s Ma s te r
e no ug h . Pe r h a p s l a te r wh e n h e \ a s ru s h e d fr o m p l a c e
.
'

to p l a c e for c o u n t l e ss m e e ti n g s in th e h e a t o f o u r tro p i c a l
s ummer a h e a t h e h a d n o t e x e r i e n c e d be fo r e a l wa y s
p ,

h a ving fro m a c hi l d s p e n t th e h o t s a so u o n th e hi l ls w

and h a v ing to t ra v e l by bo a t b u l l o c k c a rt or tra in .

,

a t n i g ht a n d to s t a r t h i s w o r k a g a in u po n a r r i v a l
,
he ,

m a y h a v e fe l t di ffe re n tl y In s p ea kin g o f it to hi s
. .

fr i e n ds h e s i m p l y s a i d I t i s th e w i ll o f Go d
, .

‘ Vh e n h e w a s p l u n g e d i n t o th e m i s e r y o f a n e a s t e r n
pri son a t I l o m to find hi m s e l f h e rd e d w i th a ll so rt s o f
e v i l ch a ra c te rs h e w rot e in th e fly l e a f o f h i s
, Tes t a -

ment these word s :

N e p a l J une 7 1 9 1 4 ( h ri t s pr e s e n c e h a s t u rn e d m y
‘ '

, , . s

pr i s on i nto a bl ess e d h ea v e n w h a t th e n w i ll i t d o i n h a v e n '

h e r ea fte r
So ,
like h i s p re d e c e s o rs Pa u l a n d S i l a s o f o ld h i
s . s

pri so n w a s hi s m ee ti n g pl a c e w ith C h ri s t a n d to be i n
-
,

he l l w ith Ch r i s t w o u l d be bett e r to h i m th a n to be m
he a v e n w ithout Him .

S o sure is th e S ai d h u o f Christ s c on t i n u a l p r e s e n c e
'

with him th a t h e e x p r e ssed n o su rpri s e w h e n th e fo l l o w i n g

 CII A P TER XX I I I

S A D H U S U N D A R S ns o n
'

AND THE S A N YA S I MI S S I O N

h wa s surel y a w o n derful pro v ision of God w he n He

ca lled S u n d a r S ingh to be a Chri s ti a n S adhu A mo n gs t .

Christi a n s his s a ffron robe g ives him a positio n the best

possible for the a c c ept a n c e of th e mes sag e h e brings .

Gra n ted the sa me ma n a n d mes s a ge he would a ssuredly

u n der a n y circums ta n c es h a ve w o n the hea rt of th e
I n di a n Christi a n Chu rch but being a tru e S adhu in
,

a ppea ra n ce a s w ell as i n spirit h a s a dded e n ormousl y

to his i n flue n ce a n d po w er .

Perh a ps n othing h a s pro v ed more w onderfu l to

Christi a n s every where th a n th e humility a n d simp l icity
o f the S adhu s spirit, a n d n o o n e is more filled w ith
’

w o n der th a n him s elf w he n cro wds li n ger a bo ut him

j ust to look a t his fa ce .

But th e most rem a rk a ble results of his being a S adhu

a re a pp a re n t in his life a n d w ork a mo n gst n o n -Ch r isti a n s .

Th is he l ooks upon a s his s worn t a sk Natura ll y hi s .

sadh u s rob e s ga in h im a n e n tra nc e to pl a ces a n d to

’ '

peopl e a s nothi n g e l se could Often in th e c ours e of hi s

.

pi l g rim ag e s from pl a c e to p l a ce he comes a cross unu s u a l

t y pe s o f Indi a n sadhus a n d it ha s be en his privi l ege
,

to di s co v er to th e w orld a m a rvel l ous mo v ement to wa rd s

 THE S AN YA S I M I SS I O N 87

Christ i a nit y a mongst the most deeply religious me n o f

’

India .

The R ev J J Joh n so n of the Church Missio n a ry

. . .
,

S ociet y w h o died i n 1 9 1 8 wa s o n e o f the finest S a n skri t

, ,

s c hol a rs in Indi a D uri n g the l a tt er p a rt o f h is life

.
,

he w a s s et a pa rt by his S ociety for a w ork he w a s

m agnifi c e n tl y fitt ed for a mongs t the p a ndits a n d le a r ned
cl a sses throughout Indi a The story o f this w ork is a
.

rom a nc e wa iting to be w ritten On his l a st visit to t h e .

sou t h he told us th a t he belie v ed there were gre a t

n umbers o f the highes t c a stes of I n di a wa i t i n g to become
Christi a n s a sta teme n t m a de a fter y ea rs of i nt im a te
,

rel a tionship w ith t he le aders o f religious t hough t i n

Indi a.

But it wa s re served for S u n d a r S i ngh t o lift the veil

a n d pro v e th e truth of this a sto n ishing s ta temen t an d ,

this is h o w i t c a me a bout Tow a rds the e n d o f 1 9 1 2

.

the S ad hu we nt to S arn ath (th e sce n e o f Buddh a s first ’

pre a chi n g ) a n d there h e met wit h some me n dressed

,

as sa n y asis Ent eri n g i n to co n vers a tio n w ith them he

.

fou n d t hey were Christi a ns a n d belo n ged t o a secre t

,

orga n i za tio n n umberi n g some members who a re ,

sca ttered a ll over Indi a These a re di v ided into two

.

cl a sses c a lled S h i sh ya s a n d S wamis or Compa nio n s a n d ,

Hera lds The Comp a nions a re ordina ry members w h o

.

fu l fi l a ll the usu a l work of l ife The Hera lds n umber .

a bout 7 00 a re dressed like S a n y asis a n d a re the u n p a id

, ,

prea c hers w h o co n duct ser v ices a mo n g the Compa n ions

w here v er the y meet them .

These secre t believers observe ba ptism a n d the Lo rd s ’

S upper . B a nds o f them a re found a ll over I n di a a n d ,

in most dista n t a n d u n expect ed pla ces It wa s due to .

the ki n dness a n d c a re of some o f these good people th a t

S u n d a r wa s o n o n e occa sio n n ursed ba ck to life a fter
imprisonment a n d persecut ion i n Nepa l He s a ys th a t .
88 S AD H U S UND A R S IN G H

th ese believers a re w o n t to a ssemble a t fixed a n d very

e a rl y hours i n Houses of Pr ay er ou t wa rdly resembli n g
H i n du t emples bu t which conta i n n o im a ges o r
,

pictures Th e Bible is re ad a n d expou n ded a n d Chris t i a n

.

pa pers a re circul a t ed Ea stern met hods a re sedulousl y

.

followed such a s complete prostra tio n o f t he bod y i n

,

pra y e r The belief is held th a t if me n pray ed i n pe rfec t

.

fa ith they would h a ve co n sta nt v ision s of the M a ster

H imself .

Belo n gi n g to t his secret Christi a n Brotherh ood a re

va rious S adhus an d hermits o f recogn ized hol in ess a n d ,

a l a rge n umber o f the members a re educa t ed a n d we a lth y

men o f the upper cl a sses w h o free l y subscribe to wa rds,

the ma i n ten a nce o f the orga n i za tion The S adhu h a s .

often bee n presen t a t the ir ser v ices a n d h as severa l ,

t imes bee n m ista ken for o n e of themselves He h a s .

very e a rn es t l y begged th a t they would ope n ly confess

Christ an d t hey promise tha t whe n the righ t mome nt
,

comes they will do so .

O n o n e occa sio n w hile the S adhu wa s pre a chi n g o n

t he ba n ks o f the Ga nges his a udie n ce told him t h a t
while t h ey liked him a s a s a n y asi they did n ot like his
message an d they reques t ed him t o visit a gre a t Hindu
,

prea cher w h o lived close by an d w h o w a s a ttra cting

l a rge cro w ds For three d a y s h e could n o t get n e a r
.

him for th e crowd O n e d ay however he was a ble

.
, ,

t o meet him alo n e a n d the n the S adhu lea rn t t ha t he

,

was a Christi a n The Hi n du prea cher embra ced him

.

”
,

and s a id Bro t her w e a re doing the sa me work

, , .

S u rprised a t t his S unda r s a id he ha d n ever h ea rd him

,

prea c hi n g Christ To which he replied

. Is t here a n y ,

foolish fa rmer who wi ll so w withou t prep a ri n g th e

grou n d " I firs t try to a wake n i n my hea rers a se n se o f
va lues a n d whe n a hu n ger a n d thirst for righteousness
,

i s created I pl a ce Chris t before t h e m O n t h e b a n ks o f .

90 S AD H U S UN D A R S IN GH

tio n s of sec t a n d cre ed an d be prepa red t o reco gn ize

,

the S pirit o f God i n wha tever form He m ay be m ade

m a n i fest He a dded th a t he full y belie v ed the S a n y asi
.

Missio n is bei n g blessed o f God an d a lthough it h a s

,

ta ke n a form we a re n o t a ccus tomed t o i t is g ive n to

,

i t s lea ders to do grea t t hi n gs for I n di a .

Yi shu N asri N ath lei J ai V ict ory to J esus Lo rd of

N a za ret h —is the pa ssword o f t hi s secre t Brotherh ood
o f Chris t i a n s i n I n di a
.
 CHA P TER XXI V

SA D H U S UND A R Sw e n AND THE MA HA RI S H I or KA I LA S H

S O ME t ime ag o a N ort h I n di a n n ewsp a per publis h ed

t he followin g
O u r w o rl d l ess sel fl ess an d g odl y brothe r S un d a r S ing h h as
, ,

d i sc o v ere d the C h r isti a n he rm it the M ah a r ishi at K a i lash ,

w h o h as fo r y ea rs been on the sno wy H im a l aya s pr a y ing

a n d inte rce d in g fo r the w orld You h a v e r e v ea l e d to
.

the w orld the s ecret o f one o f the members o f ou r mis s ion

th e M ah a r ishi a t K a ilash .

D uri n g his pilgrim a ge i n W est ern Tibet th e S adhu

wa s co n st a n tl y sea rchi n g for those hol y m en who retire
t o t he s n owy pea ks a n d c a ves of these dista nt mou n t a ins ,

there to spen d their l a st d ay s i n co n templ a tio n Fa r .

from the dw e ll ings of m en i n the sile n ce of the etern a l

sno w s stret c hes the K a i l ash ra nge o f the Him a l a y a s .

The might y Indus h a s its sou r ce in this r a nge a n d its ,

grea t tributa ry the S ut l ej a lso ta k es its rise there

, , .

The S utlej flo w s through the c ou n try of S und a r S ingh s ’

birth an d a t one point w here the bed of the stre a m is

,

feet a bo v e the level of t he sea the rocky gorge ,

prese n ts a scene of a wful sublimity a n d is o n e o f the ,

n a tura l w onders of the w orld .

On the summit of one of the mounta in s of the K a ila sh

R a nge is a desert ed Buddhist temple n o w ra rel y vi sited
by m a n . A few miles from this temple d we ll s the gre a t
 S A D HU S I N DAR S IN G H
'

92

s a int k n o w n a s th e M a h a ri s h i of K a i la sh in a c a v e some ,

feet a bo v e sea le v el A ll thi s regio n i s th e

.

O l y mpus of Indi a th e se a t of Hindu hol y m y ths a n d it

, ,

is a ssoci ated i n Hindu s a c red book s with the n a mes of

g r ea t a n d de v out s o u ls of a l l ti m e s In o n e c a v e th e
.

s adhu fo u nd th e s keleton of s ome n a mele ss h o lv ma n

w ho h a d died w hil st medit a ting there .

The scenery a ll a rou n d is gra nd a n d i m pre s s i v e a n d ,

a m id s t th e e v e rl a s tin g s no ws spri n g s o f boi l ing w a ter

,

bubble up from o u t th e froze n g ro und S o m e three d a y s

.
’

j ourney from this pl a ce i s th e fa mo u s La ke Ma n a sa ro wa r ,

a n e xqui s itel
y b e a utiful a n d hol y p la c e On th e La ke
.

fl o a t m a n v fine s wa n s a n d u po n th e o v e rh a n g in g cl i ffs
, ,

in s we e t picture s qu e n e ss a re p e rc hed a n c i en t Buddhi s t

'

t e mples a n d mo n a steri e s Th e S adhu d e sc rib e s thi s a s

.

o n e of th e lovelie st pl a c e s h e h a s e v e r s ee n but h e a l s o ,

a dds th a t here to o a re fou n d th e m o s t c ru e l of n o m a dic

tribes w h o sl a y fo r th e pure lo v e of it a n d thu s c o n v ert

, ,

the pl a ce i n to a terror to th e h a rmles s pilgrims tra velli n g

throu g h it .

I n th e summer o f 1 9 1 2 h e tra v el l e d thro u g h these

r egions a lo n e a n d on foot ofte n re fresh e d by th e bea utiful
,

sce n e s throu g h w hi c h h e p a ss ed but more often fa tigu e d

,

t o th e l a s t d eg ree i n his di ffi c ult a n d fruit l ess se a rc h

for th e ho l y m e n h e hoped to meet there He w il l .

n ever forget th e d ay w he n struck w ith snow -bli n d n ess

,

a n d a lmo s t w ea ried to de a th he sta ggered dre a rily o n

,

o v er s no wy a n d s ton y c ra gs n ot kno w in g w hither h e

w e nt . S udden l y h e lo s t h i s b a l a n c e a n d fell Reco v er .

ing from the fa l l h e a woke to o n e of th e g reate st e xp eri

e n c e s o f h i s li fe
,
for h e opened his e y es to find himself
l y ing o u t s id e a hu g e c a ve in the she l ter of whi c h sa t th e
,

M a h a r i s hi o f K a i la sh in d eep m edit ation .

Th e s i g ht th a t m e t his e yes w a s so a pp a l l ing th a t

S und a r cl o s e d t h e m a n d a l mo st fa inted Little by little
.
 S A D HU S l XD A R S IN G "
'

94

At l a s t w e a ri e d w it h his s trenuous l a b our s th e S a int

, ,

reso l v ed to s pend th e re ma inder of h is d a y s in th e

se c l u ded s pot w here S und a r found h im D uring th e y e a rs
.

spent in thi s p l a c e th e S a int h a s lea rn t mu c h a bout

the pr oducts o f th e m ou n ta in s a n d j ungles a round him ,

by m e a ns of w hi c h h e h a s be e n a b l e to s ubsi s t to this
d ay “ h en th e S adhu fi rs t m e t h im h e w a s chi l led to
'

the bone h v th e bitte r c o l d Th e S a int g a v e him the

.

le a ves of a c ert a in p l a nt to e a t w hi c h h a v in g e ate n h e

,

immedi at e l y felt a c om fort a ble g l o w s tea l ov e r hi s bod y .

Th e S adh u h a d l ong convers a tions w ith him a bo ut

hol y thi n gs a n d hea rd m a n y stra nge thing s from his
,

lips S ome of th e e x celle n t illustra tions S unda r uses i n

.

his s ermon s: were g i v en him by this a ged S a int The .

M a h a ri s hi b e longs to th e S a n ya s i Missio n His a sto n ish

.

ing vision s a s re l a t ed to th e S adhu w ould if w ritte n

, , ,

do w n rea d l ike a noth e r B o o k of R e v e l a tio n so stra nge

, ,

and incomprehensible a re they The s adhu himse l f .

w a r n s re aders a n d he a rers o f these v ision s th a t commo n

interpret a tions c a n n ever disclose their me a ni n g si n ce ,

the S a i n t h a s to c l othe his idea l s in l a ngu age th a t ca nn ot

be t a ken l itera ll y S und a r S ingh h a s visited the
.

M a h a ri s hi three tim es a n d hopes to se e him a ga in a t

,

some future time .

 CHA P TER XX V

SA D H U S U N D A R S I N GH
. IN S O U TH IN D I A

I spea k th o s e th i n g s w h i c h I h a v e h e a rd o f Hi m as
My Fa th e r h a th ta u g h t m e I spea k th es e t h i n g s (J o h n v i i i 26
,
.
,

Obe y I be seec h th ee th e v o i ce o f th e Lo rd w h i c h I spe a k u nto

,

th ee ; so s h a ll th y s o u l l i v e (J e r xxxv i i i
. .

W I T HO UT ide a o f the protra c ted tour in front of

an y

him the S adhu c a me do w n to M a dra s a t th e beginning

,

of 1 9 1 8 inte n ding to v isit a fe w p l a c e s before st a rti n g

,

for Tibet But his fa me h a d pre c eded him a n d in v ita

.
,

tions poured i n upon him from a ll over S outh Indi a .

A n o ffer v o l unt a ri l y m a de by a gentlem a n in M a dra s to

a c t a s interpreter for a fe w weeks c a used him to a lter

his p l a ns a n d to a ccept a progra mme w hich eventu a ll y

,

in c luded Tra v a nco r e a n d C ey lon .

E v ery d a y fre s h entre a ties re a ched him from a ll

directions a n d out of them gre w th a t gre a t eva nge l istic
,

tour n ot o nl y through the S outh a n d Cey lon but a lso ,

B u rm a the Federa ted Ma l a y S ta tes Chin a a n d J a p a n

, , , .

The l a rge Christi a n commu n ity o f S outh I n di a pro vided

an imme n se sphere for hi s opera tions an d rega rdl ess , ,

of distinction of c a s te o r creed thousa nds flocked to ,

his meeting s e v ery where His w ork w a s va ried a n d

.

s trenuous Often the d a y s work bega n so e a r l y a n d

.
’

c o n tinued so l ate th a t he h a d sc a r c el y time for me als ,

a n d no leisure e v e n for the s t ud

y of his N e w Test a me n t .

In pl a ces w here he spen t m a ny d ays th e people rested

96 S AD H U S U ND A R S IN GH

a fter his depa rt ure a s a ma n does a fter a good mea l but

i n n o pl a ce did people im a gi n e t h a t the s adhu n eeded rest .

Lo n g d a y s of enga gements were succeeded by a

’
w e a risome night s j ourn e y by bo a t bullock ca rt or , ,

tra i n The n e w d a y s work bega n upon a rri v a l a n d

.
’

conti n ued u n til depa rt ure P ublic meeti n gs w ere usu ally
.

held morni n g a n d eve n ing a n d for hours bet wee n the ,

S adhu sa t receiving visi t ors a n d holdi n g i n terviews ,

whe n he ga ve a dvice solved the religious prob l e ms th a t

,

were prese n ted to him a n d a n swered e n quirers a s fa r a s

,

he wa s a ble The n umber prese n t o n su c h occ asio n s

.

va ried from a single perso n to a hu n dred or more The .

va lue o f these meeti n gs wa s testified to by the wit n e ss

of those wh o a tte n ded them a s a lso by the fa ct tha t ,

th e lo n ger th e S adhu st a y ed i n a pl a ce t he gre a ter were

the n umbers who sought to see him .

In o n e pl a ce where grea t n umbers sough t him for

spiritu a l guid a n ce a student i n the hos tel where he
sta y ed m a de it his h a pp y duty to wa tch over him by
a dmit t i n g t h e visitors The y oung m a n kep t the key of
.

’
the S adhu s door a n d a s the time for devotio n s or
,

me a ls ca me rou n d some sm a ll me a sure o f priva c y a n d

rest wa s a ssured .

In l a rge ce n tr es w here there w ere col l ege s a n d high

schools these w ere visited betwee n morning a n d eve n i n g
,

meetings a n d a ddresses were give n to the stude n ts

, .

The a ccept a n c e of in v it a tio n s to priva te houses to meet

p a rties o f Christi a n s in v ol v ed e x tra work a t the close
,

o f a rduous d a s
y Th e ba rrier o f l a ngu a ge wa s a di ffi c ult y
.

in the south w here so m a n y D ra v idi a n tongues a re

,

spo ke n W here v er possible inter v ie w s w ere co n ducted

.

i n English but a t m a n y of these a s w ell a s in public

, , ,

th e S zi d h u wa s often ob l iged to spe a k by i n terpreta tion ,

a n d th a t n ot a l w a s o f the best To o n e so a rde n t i n

y .

tempera ment so full o f his messa g e so a n x iou s for souls

, , ,
 CHA P TER XX VI

S AD H U S U ND A R S I N GH AT A G R EA T C H RI S T I A N
C O N VE N TI O N

THE CA LL . Oh Yo u n g Me n a w a ke a n d see h o w m a n y
, ,

so u l s a re d a i l y pe ri s h i n g a ro u n d y o u I s i t n o t y o u r d u ty to sa v e
.

th e m B e b ra v e s o ld i e rs o f C h rist ; Go fo rwa rd i n fu ll a rmo u t

Cru sh S ata n s wo rk a n d v i ct o ry be yo u rs
’
.

Gl o ry to Go d He h as g i v en yo u a prec i o u s Oppo rtu n i ty to be

.

sa v ed a n d to sa v e o th e rs I f y o u a re ca re l ess n o w y o u w il l n e v e r
.
,

t a n o th e r ch a n c e W h ate v er y o u h a v e g o t to d o d o i t n o w
g o r yo u wil l n e v er pa ss th ro u g h th e fi eld o f battl e ag ai n Th e
e
.
.
,

d a y i s fast a ppro ac h i ng w h e n y o u wi ll see th e m a rt yrs i n th e i r

g l o ry
, w h o g a v e th e i r h ea l th w e a l th an d l i fe to w i n s o u ls fo r Ch ri s t
, .

Th ey h a v e d o n e m u c h W h at h a v e yo u do n e " o h " m a y w e
.

n o t b l u s h o n th a t d a y .
— S UND A R S ING H
"
.

T H I S cl a ri o n c a l l reso u n ded a ll through S outh Indi a ,

stirring he a rts every where ; but perh a ps no w here wa s

it so clea r so i n siste n t a s a t the Con ve n tio n s o f Christi a ns
, ,

i n Tra va n core a n d Cey lo n W here Christi a n s a re .

n umerous a nn ua l conve n tions for the deepen i n g of

,

spiritu a l l ife h a ve of l a te y ea rs become very popul a r .

Like the K es w i c k Con v ention meetings a re he l d for a ,

week w ith settled progra mmes a n d pre a c hers a n d a re ,

a ttended by i n cre a sing numbers a s time goes on .

S evera l o f the co n ve n tio n s h a ve been b l essed by the

presen c e of the S adhu the l a rgest in point of numbers ,

being in Tra v a ncore .

Th e historic S y ri a n Church of M a l a b a r proud l y d a tes

 AT A G R EA T C HRI S T IA N C O N V E N T I ON 99

b a ck to the d ays whe n it is belie v ed tha t S t Thoma s .

l a nded o n these shores a n d l a id t h e fou nda tions o f

Chri s ti a nit y in Indi a This a ncient Ch u rc h is di v ided
.

into three sections th e R om a n the J a cobite a n d the

-
, ,

Ma r Th o m a S y ri a n .

A bout th e midd l e of Febru a ry 1918 the S a dhu , ,

a tten d ed th e J a cobite S y ri a n Con v e n tio n i n N orth

Tra v a ncore whe n some ,
people c a me toge t her ,

a n d h e spe n t a h a pp y a n d useful time a mongst them .

Fro m there a t the end O f the mo nt h he went o n to the

Ma r Thom a S v ri a n Co n v entio n a lso i n N orth Tra v a n ,

core .

This l a tter wa s a rom a n ti c a n d rem a rk a b l e e x perien c e

not s oon to be forg ott e n A hundred miles north of .

l ri v a n d ra m i s the w id e s t a n d most be a utiful river of

' ‘

Tra va ncor e I n th e d ry sea son the ri v er flows o nl y in

.

th e deepest p a rts o f its bed A big be n d i n the river

.

lea v es a very l a rge s a n d y isl a nd upo n w hich e a ch y ea r

a n immense booth is erected to a ccommod a te

peo p l e For a w eek meetings a re c a rried on duri n g the

.

g rea ter p a rt o f ea c h d a v E v ery d a y lo n g before d a w n

.

a m a n w ith a stentori a n v oi c e p a ssed rou n d the enc a mp

ment c ry in g Pra ise be to Go d " P ra ise to th e S o n of

,

Go d Very soon a fter the sound of pra y er ro s e a ll

a ro u nd These pra yers were ch a nted to a n c ient S y ri a n
.

t u ne s the w eird s ound rising in gra du a l crescendo ; a n d

,

th u s w a s th e b l e s sin g of God i n v oked before the m eetin g s

e a ch d a T h e S adhu dre w gre a ter cro w ds th a n usu a l
y .
,

so th a t b e fo r e th e e n d of th e w eek the booth h a d to be

e n l a rg ed a n d a t th e fin a l meeting no fewer th a n
,

peop l e g a thered to he a r his l a st me s s a ge .

The w onder of th a t d a i l y sce n e is a lmost bey o n d

d e sc ription A rough p l a tform a bout eightee n inches
.

hi g h h ad been p l a ced a bo u t a third of the w ay from the

ba c k o f th e bo oth a n d on o n e e n d stood two c h a irs
,
1 00 SAD HU S UN D A R S I N GH

occupied by th e tw o Bi s ho p s of the Ma r Thom a S y ri a n

C h u rc h , w h o a ppe a red d a il y in re sp l ende n t robes of red
or purple s a ti n w ith gold be l ts a n d qu a int he a d -dres s es .

On the p l a tform be l o w , s itting t a ilor fa shion , w ere th e

cle rgy o f the Chur c h a n d in front of them in the s a m e
lo wl y sty le sa t the S a dhu .

The v a st cro w ds w ere sea ted on the s a nd the w ome n ,

a ll in w hite o n th e l eft a n d th e m en in front a n d a t th e

,

ri g ht A wa y o v e r th e s ea of hea ds o n e c a u g ht g l i mp s e s
.

o f the shining ri v er ,
w ith it s stra n g e cra ft p l y ing up a n d
do w n A more de v out cro w d it is not possib l e to i m ag ine
.

Ev erv d a v th e ea rlv p a rt of the meetings w a s g i v en to

pra y er S ubj ects were g i v e n for silent pra y er from time
.

to ti m e by th e presidi n g Bi s hop w hen e v ery he a d wa s

,

bo we d a n d th e a lmo st i n a udible murmur o f p ra v e r

,

g ra du a l l y incre a s e d until a sound l ike th e sur g in g s e a

rol l in g i n ful l tide ro s e a ll a rou n d a most im p re ss i v e
e x perience
The fea rfu l hea t wa s on l y equ a l l e d bv th e inten se
silence th a t pre v a i l ed a s th e S adhu ro s e to s pe a k Ofte n .

in his n orther n c ountr y h e h a d hea r d of th e g r e a t number

of Christi a n s i n Tra v a n c ore a n d thou sa nds h a d ga there d
,

i n our o w n mi ss ion to he a r h i m But here for the fir s t

.

'
time h e rea l i z ed a s h e l ook e d a t thi s m i g ht y c ro wd
,

h o w grea t th e n u m be r w a s a n d his he a rt w a s fi l l e d w it h

w o n der a to w h v th e Go s p e l h a d been s o l o n g i n re a chin g

s

th e mi l l ion s o f g re a t e r In d i a .

In b ra v e stern w ord s h e reminded this mu l titude

th a t through th e a ges God h a d m a de th e S y ri a n Churc h
th e rep o si to rv of Hi s truth but th a t fa ilure o n their p a rt
,

to h a nd on th e Go s p e l to their o wn c o u ntry men h a d

fo rc ed God to c a l l me n fro m A me r i c a a n d E n g l a nd to do
th e w o rk th e v h a d l e ft u ndone Then a l l u din g to th e
.
,

grea t reform mo v e m e nt in thi s a n c ient Ch u rc h h e ,

ea rne s tl y a n d te n d e rl v beso u g ht them to ri s e to th e

 CHA P TE R XX VI ]

C E Y LO N

Th”o u sh a l t be Hi s w i tn e ss Of wha t th o u ha st see n a nd

h e a rd — A c ts xx 1 5
. . .

I N Ma y , 1 9 1 8 th e S adhu h a d a lmost completed a lo n g

,

a n d a rduous tour through S outh Indi a Before p a ssing .

w est a n d n orth a ga i n h e left the gre a t continent of his

birth , a n d c rossi n g to Colomb o spen t six weeks i n Ce y lon .

D uring t hose crowded weeks the e n thusi a sm o f the south

was repe a ted in every pl a ce he visi t ed a n d incre a singl y ,

a s the d a s went b P rob a bl for the first time in

y y y .

Ceylon mission a ries ministers a n d l a y me n o f a ll d en o m i

, ,

n a tio n s j oined together for a ca mpa ig n th a t shoul d c o v er

most of the import a n t to w ns of the Is l a nd ; a n d their
h a rmonious c o op era tion not onl y m a de thin gs run
-

s moothl
y for the S adhu but l a rgel y contributed to th e
,

v ery re a l suc c ess O f his w ork E v eryt hing wa s done to .

e n sure his v isiting a s m a n y pl a ces a s po ssible a n d lo c a l ,

p a pers i n Colombo Ka nd y a n d Jaffn a report ed his

, ,

progress a s h e went a l o n g .

Mr Wi lson the convener o f th e co m mittee th a t

.
,

a rra n ged his progra mme w rote ,

H i s (the S ad h u s ) meeting s w er e a l wa ys atten d ed by

’

enormou s crow ds Peo pl e beg a n to c o m e i n from 3 o cl ock

.
’

when the meeting s w ere a nnoun c ed to be g i n a t 6 p m .

 C E YLO N 1 03

C a th ol i cs a n d H ind u s c a m e in g rea t num be rs a n d p e o pl e ,

fro m as far as fo rt y m i l es O ff c a m e to C o l om bo to atten d th e

m eeting s . A t no pl a c e c ou ld a h a ll be g o t l a rg e e noug h to
h o ld th e crowds t h a t th r o ng e d to h ea r h i m d ay a fte r d a y .

D r a w in g r oom meetin g s w e r e a rr a n g e d i n m a n y pl a c e s
- .

P ro ba bl y no C h r i sti a n e v an g e l i ca l e ffort so g rea tl y s ti rr ed

the p eo pl e as thi s m i s s i on o f a n In d i a n c o n v e rt g a r bed as
a s a n y as i .Ther e w as no w a y o f t ra n sl a ting th e a ddres s es
into S i n h a l e s e A n att e m p t w a s m a d e bu t pro v ing u n s ati s
.
,

fa c to rv th e i d ea w as a ba n d oned .

A Hindu gentlem a n w ell a cqu a inted with the recent

revi v a l litera ture of Hi n duism w a s desirous O f putt i n g
into the qu e sti o n bo x a question rel a t i n g to pra yer By
o
.

a h a ppy c oin c iden c e th a t night the S adhu spoke o n

pra y e r Th e m a n l istened v ery a ttenti v ely a n d a t th e
.
,

e n d h e s a id He is re a l l y a spiritu a l guru (te a cher ) a n d

,

”
I hop e to g et light from him .

I n J a ffn a a l a rge cit y on the north o f the Isl a n d a

, ,

re a l spiritu a l w ork wa s done I n w riti n g o f th e S adhu .

th e R ev . G G Bro wn M A a mission a ry i n Ja fi n a
. .
, . .
, ,

s a id of the S adhu
He h as d ee p a n d uni que re l ig iou s exp e r ien ce y et it i s
a ,

w i th g r e a t h e s it a n c y th at he s p ea ks a bout it a n d h e ne v e r ,

g i v es th e i m pre ss i on th at h i s s hou ld be the no rma l e xp e r ien c e ,

o r th a t o th e rs s h ou ld foll o w h i s ma nne r O f l i v ing H is hold .

on t h e p eopl e i s rea l a n d I h a v e ne v e r s een l a rg e m eetin g s

,

a t J a ffn a a t w hi c h the a ttention w as s o m a rk e d P a rt o f .

h i s c h a r m an d p ow e r l ie s i n the fa c t th at he r e pres ents a

p u re l y In d i a n ty p e o f l i fe a n d thoug ht a n d in h i m w e h a v e ,

an e xpr es s ion O f C h r i s ti a n i d e a ls in a p u r e l
y In d i a n s ettin g .

In v it a tions w ere sc a ttered bro a dc a st a mongst n on

Christi a ns wh i c h w ere w e l l responded to by Buddhists ,

Muh a mm a d a ns a n d Hindus ; an d they w ere a ssured th a t

,

i f the y c a me w ith a n ope n mind th ey shou l d n ot return

w ithout ga in In severa l pl a ces especi a l l y in J a ffn a
.
, ,

a fter the S adhu s dep a rture a rti c les a ppe a red in th e

’

loca l pa pers e a rnestl y urging a pra ctic a l issue a n d in v iti n g ,

1 0‘ SAD HU S UND A R S ING H

co llege a n d school t ea chers as well a s min ist ers to follow

up the work while he a rt s were likel y t o be respon si v e
to th e mess age O f life .

T h e S adhu ofte n a ddressed as m a n y a s t h ree meeti n gs

a d a y a s well a s co n ducti n g i nt erviews a n d he suffered
, ,

so muc h from th e moist he a t th a t i n writi n g t o a frie n d

i n t he n orth he like n ed himself to a lump o f s a lt i n

solutio n a dding h e wa s w illing to melt like s a lt if o n l y
, ,
”
the s o u t h might be sa l t ed .

’
The S adhu s tour bo t h through Cey lo n a n d S ou t h
,

I n di a wa s a rem a rka ble e x perience In Colombo every

, .

d a y hundreds could not get n e a r the doors o f his meetings ,

a n d from d a wn to l a te a t n ight gre a t n umbers sought

him o u t for spiritu a l guid a n ce so th at a ll the t ime his

,

life wa s l ived a mo n gst crowds New s pa pers w ro t e .

a bout h i m a n d his n a me bec a me a household w ord i n

,

tho u sa n ds o f Christi a n homes But multitudes a n d .

popul a ri ty coun t for nothing t o the S adhu b eyo n d th e

fa c t t h a t th e y provide for him O pportu n ities to pre a c h
Christ an d re a ch t he souls O f me n A t wh a t cost this .

gre at work h a s been do n e only th e S adhu himself k n o w s .

His ca lm dign ity a mo n gst the e n ormous crowds th a t

surrou n ded him a n d in v a ded h is pri v a cy a t a ll hours ,

ga ve n o hi nt Of his i nn ermost shri nki n g from such grea t

publicity .

O n e grea t sa fegu a rd to the S adhu in the enormous

t empta t io n s such e x periences bri n g is his a bsolute ,

simplicity th a t simplicity which Fé n é lo n describes a s

,

a n upright n ess o f soul w hich h a s ce a sed to d w ell upo n

”
i t self o r its a ctions w here Christ is a ll a n d s elf les s
,

th a n the dust .

O n his return to Colombo a fter touri ng the Isl a nd

he held a series of meeti n gs w hen his a ddresses were,

tra nsl a ted from Urdu i n to E nglish by C a non Go l dsmith ,

who w e nt ov er from M a dra s for the purpose .

1 06 S AD H U S UN D A R S I N GH

Christi a n Church a ccep t a n d a bide by his tea ching a n d

ex a mple a n d ca sti n g o ff the ch a ins of ce n turies enter into
,

th a t ful n ess o f life of w hi c h the S adhu so co n sta n tly

spo ke a n d w hich he himself e nj oy s " Thus a n d thus
, ,

o n l y sh a ll sh e e nt er i nt o th a t a bund a n t an d glorious
,

service t h a t sh a ll cl a im I n di a for her Lo rd .

Th e visi t o f S adhu S u n da r S i n gh t o t he Churches of

S ou th I n dia a n d Cey lo n is over His w ork is do n e a n d
.
,

h e h a s p a ssed to other l a n ds an d other communities .

T he hea rts o f t hous a n ds h a ve been t ouched by his

mess a ge an d his perso n a li ty a n d though emi n entl y
,

pra ctica l he h as s t irred deep emotion s i n e v ery pl a ce h e

h as bee n t o Prob a bl y n o si n gle ma n h a s a tt ra cted so
.

much a t ten tio n an d devotio n i n a ll t he history o f t he

Christi a n Chu rch i n I n dia .

D uri n g his visit people co n s t a nt l y besough t him to

pra y for them ; t o visit an d pra y with si c k friends a n d
to bless litt le children ; a n d e v en to touch his robe
brought comfort t o m a n y A s the S adhu co n tinued his
.

j ourney through the S outh these requests a n d this

,

trea tme n t beca me so ge n era l a n d reports of his h a vi n g

,

he a led t he sick by his touch o r through pr a y er so

persiste n t th a t he was obliged to decline requests t o
,

visi t t he homes o f people lest superstitious beliefs should

,

c a use t hem t o look upo n him a s a worker o f mira c les .

Whe n a sked to bless people his repl y in v a ri a bl y w a s ,

How c a n t hese h a n ds bless a n yo n e— these h a nds t h a t

’
to re up God s W ord a n d burn t it in the fire
No t by such mea n s did S und a r S i n gh stri v e to bri n g
me n to the feet o f his M a ster But by forceful mess a ge
an d by a livi n g ex a mple he sho w ed me n h o w to tre a d

the s a me p a t h a n d with persu a si v e tenderness he sought

,

to lea d them to the S a viour Is S und a r S ingh to p a ss

.

lea ving o n l y a burn ing mess a ge a n d precious memory

Gre a t er th a n the blessing o f hi s h a n ds grea ter th an ,
 CE YLON 1 07

his person a lit y is the deep desire of his he a rt th a t the

,

Christi a ns of Indi a a n d Ce ylo n m a y a ccept his minist ry,

put it into pra cti c e li v e by it a n d w ith him be c ome true

, ,

a n d de v oted fo ll o wers of Jesus Chri st

.

Let us ari se a n d
“
, ,
His gr ac e a biding follo w
,

S u nd a r S ingh eve n a s he follow s Ch rist .

 C HA P TER XX VI I I

e o THE Ur rrz n n o s r PA R T S
'
o r THE EA R TH

I li v e by th e fa i th o f th e S o n o f Go d .
—G a l a ti a n s u . 20 .

R E TU R N I N G in Jul y to Indi a th e 8 51 t comp l eted

w ork in the S outh turning w e st to Bomb a y for a c onfer
,

en c e a n d the n north to C a lcutt a w here soo n a fter hi s ,

a rri v a l he fell i l l of influen za w hich wa s ra ging there a t

the time I n w riti n g of thi s a fterw a rds he s a id

. In ,

sickness Go d h a s gi v en me the rest a n d time for p ra y er

”
I co u ld not get in th e S outh Upon his re c overy h e
.

w e n t to spend a fe w d a y s a t Bo l pur w ith th e g r e a t

E a ster n M y stic S i r R a bi n d ra n a th Ta gore returning to
, ,

C a l c utt a to obe y a c a l l to v i s it B u rm a a n d the S tra it s

S ett l ements The conti n uou s mess a ges o f a ffection h e
.

kept recei v i n g from Ce y lon d u ring these a n d succeed i ng

d a y s brought him a gre a t de a l o f h appiness .

On his w a y o v er th e sea s to Burm a h e wrote I ,

h a ve much time for pra yer a n d a m re a ding m a n y n e w

”
p a ges i n the book of n a t u r e a n d a ll wh o kno w him,

w ill underst a nd h o w his store of i l l ustra tions w o u l d be

enriched from th a t so u rc e in a wa y entirel y his o w n .

A rri v ed a t R a ngoo n h e h a d th e a ssist a n c e of tra n sl a tors

a n d stil l did most of h i s w ork in U rdu but e v en a t th a t ,

time h e w a s h 0ping soon to be a b l e to sp e a k in Eng l i s h

a n d so a void th e double a n d e v e n treb l e tra nsl a tion s th a t
 SAD H U S UN D A R S I N GH

gl a dl y obedient to his God th a t he steps out i n to a n

utterl y u n known future unpro v ided for a n d l o " tra ins ,

st a nd re a d y for him ships ride a t a n c hor a wa iting him

, ,

a n d men of differe n t n a tion a lities c o l ours a n d l a ngu a ges

, ,

hold out helping h a nds e v ery where S ure l y this is .

li v ing by the fa ith of the S o n of God

I n the cosmopo l it a n cities of R a ngoon S inga pore , ,

a n d P en a n g the l a rge a udiences w ere perh a ps a s mi x ed

i n ra ce st a tus an d l a ngu a ge a s a n yw here in th e wor l d

, , .

Here the S adhu c a me in co nta ct w ith Chinese Ja p a nese , ,

M a l a y s Europea n s a n d v a rious Indi a n peoples a n d hi s

, , ,

a ddresses were usu a l l y t r a ns l a ted by two i n te rpreters .

U rdu Burmese Benga l i Ta mil Te l ugu Chinese a n d

, , , , , ,

E ngl ish were th e me a ns of commu n ic a tio n w hilst ,

business men of different ra c es a rm y m en c l erics a n d , , ,

Govern ment o ffi ci a ls took the ch a ir or sh a red the s a me

pl a tform w ith him .

Fo r l a ck of Christi a n n ewsp a pers to report his work ,

a n d since he so ra re l
y of his o wn a c cord spe aks a bo ut
it i n form a tion rega rding his tour h a s been di ffi cu l t to
,

obt a in but l etters fr om friends w h o h a v e met or enter

,

ta i n ed him give glimpses of interest W hen th e S adhu

.

we n t up to M a y m y o he w a s delighted w ith th e fine

sce n ery a n d c ool c lim a te It wa s in this be a utiful spot
.

th a t he met some P u n j a bis his -o wn count r y men who

, , ,

though n o n -Christi a ns insisted on his t a king a mea l

,

with them a n d much to his j o y invited him to p a rta ke

,

fr om th e s a me dish w ith them A mission a ry w riting .

fr om there s a id
A b o v e a ll h i s g i ft s st a n ds o u t the s o u l o f the m a n a s ou l ,

th a t h a s g r i pp ed to i ts el f the m ess ag e i t i m p a r ts to oth e rs .

In e v e ry c ity he v i s ite d he h a s l e ft a t ra i l o f l i g ht beh i n d him .

From Ipoh i n Pera k c a me the p a theti c mess a ge

H e h as ta ug h t u s to pra y fo r ou r pr aye rs are q uite d i ffe rent
,

no w .M y ne p h e w the s on o f a non -C h ri s ti a n h as a l w a y s
, ,
 UNTO THE U TTE R MO S T P A R T S O F THE E A R T H 1 1 1

sa id h e w ou ld ne v e r bec o m e a C h r i s ti a n , bu t w ou l d r em a in in
t h e fa i t h o f h i s a n c e s to rs a n d p e r fo r m h i s fa the r s fu ne r a l
’

r ite s Th e S ad h u s t a y ed i n ou r hou s e , a n d s o cl ea re d the

.

y oung m a n s d ou bt s th a t h e n o w w i s hes to be ba p ti ze d
‘
.

A lea ding medi c al ma n i n S i n ga pore sends a brie f

mess a ge
H is tou r th roug h the M a l ay S tates e xten d ing o v e r , a month ,

w as a c ontinue d Pentec os t :

W hilst a S tra its p a per a dds

H i s p a ss ion ate a d v ocac y o f the C h r i s ti a n fa ith w o n the
hea rt s o f h i s numer ou s hea re rs .

At B a ssein he w a s v ery h a ppy to find th a t some

le a ding Hindus a n d Muh a mm a d a ns w ere t a king a n
a c ti v e p a rt i n a rra nging for the meetings a n d in P e n a n g ,

a nother une x pected h a ppiness a w a ited him He spoke .

in the Empi r e Thea tre the a ddress bei n g summ a ri z ed

,

in Ta mil M a l a y a n d Chinese A meeting for S ikh s i n

, , .

’
Hindust a n i wa s he l d in S t George s Ch a pel w hen he
.
,

pre a ched to a fu l l house A t the c l ose of the meeting a

.

S ikh ge n tlem a n a rose a n d in v ited t he S adhu to go an d

spe a k i n the S ikh Temp l e A t P en a ng a lso t he Chief
.

of the Poli c e t ook the ch a ir a t o n e o f his meetings a n d ,

ga v e a h a lf ho l ida y to the police st a ff in order to give

-

them the opportu nit y o f a ttending .

It was l ittle wo n der th a t fe a r w as expressed i n ce rta i n

qu a rters t ha t so much success might wea n him from
the simp l e sadhu l ife But no o n e was more a l ive
.

to the insidious tempt a tions of the mome nt tha n the

s adhu himse l f a n d his c o n sta n t pra y er w a s t h a t he
,

might be kept humb l e a n d fa ithful to the e n d .

His o wn impressions he w rites as follows

The B u r mese are o f the M ong o l i a n ty p e an d are
B udd hi sts a n d fo r this rea s on they h a v e no t rue i d ea o f
,

God It is d i ffi cu l t to m a k e them un d e rsta n d fo r in their

.
,
112 S A D HU S UN D A R S IN G H

l a ng u ag e they s eem to h a v e no word th at r ig h tl y e xpress e s

ou r i d ea o f G od B ut th e y a re a s i m pl e p eo pl e a n d thei r
.
,

tem pl es a re a ll o pen to v i s i to rs Th ey are not bi g ote d a s

.

a re H in d u s a n d M uh a m m a d a n s B ut the H in d u s he re not
.

on l y atten d meeting s th e m se l v es bu t br ing th e i r w i v es with

them .

The n h e a dds
I d o not s ee a s othe rs seem to se e wh at a g r eat w o rk i s
g oi ng o n a m ong th e p eo pl e .

The begi nn ing of 1 9 1 9 m a rk s a grea t e v ent in t he

S adhu s c a reer for n ot o nl y did he m a ke his long j ourn e y
’
,

to Chi n a a n d Ja pa n but o n Ja n u a rv 2 he found himself

,

i n S inga pore a mid s t a peop l e w hose c ommo n l a ngu a ge

w a s E n g li s h a n d there w a s n o o n e wh o c ould tr a nsl a te
,

from Hi ndu st a n i for him Im m edi a te l y h e resol v ed to

.

use En g li s h a n d from th a t d a y hi s work w a s a lmost

,

e n ti re lv done in th at l a n g u a ge On l y a fe w mo n ths
.

before s ome import a nt en g a geme n ts in S outh I n di a h a d

bee n dropp ed for la c k o f a n interpreter so th a t it i s ,

not su rpri s in g th a t those w h o were pr a y ing th a t his

w ork in the se dist a nt l a nd s mi g ht be effecti v e felt th a t ,

their pra y e r s w ere a n s w ere d when they hea rd th a t the

S adhu w a s fe a rl e ssl y s pe a kin g i n E n g li s h .

From S inga pore h e went to Chin a where h e sta yed ,

a s hort tim e B i s h o p M a l on ey ga v e h i m a n ote of

.

introduction to a J a p a ne se Bi s hop a n d a fter a fe w ,

meetings h e l eft Chin a w ith th e p r omi se to spe n d a litt l e

,

ti m e on hi s wa y ba c k a n d to o k s hip to J a p a n \Vhe n he
, .

r ea c h e d th a t c o u n trv a n d h ea rd th e J a p a ne s e spe a king

i n E n g l i s h h e fe l t m u c h e n c o u ra g ed Thus the grea t ’

b a r ri e r of l a n g u a g e w hi c h h a d s o ofte n h a mpe red a n d

di s tre ss e d him i s b ro k e n d o w n a n d h e th a n ks Go d
,

w h o h a s en a bl ed him to w itne s s to th e end s of th e e a rth

in thi s wonderfu l w a y .
 1 14 SAD HU S UN D A R S ING H

W h i l s t from Tok yo c a me ye t a nother letter from a

m i ssi o n a rv in whi c h h e s a id
H i s cl ea r p u tting o f sp i r i tua l i ss u es w as v ery s t r i k i ng H i s .

w o rd h a d a sp i r itu a l a u th o r it y be h i n d it He w as ou r g ues t .

h e re a n d a ft e r w a rds j o int g u es t w it h u s in P e k in .

Th e R e v T a k a h a ru . T a k a m a t s u J a p a ne se , Pa s tor at

Oka sa ki , w rote
He in sp i re d m a n y A m er ica n
mi ss iona r ies r es i d ent in K yoto ,

bu t th e n a ti v e mini ste rs w ere

e v en more in sp i re d I thin k , .

A y oung J a p a nes e w h o i s i n th e s enio r cl a ss o f th e Th i rd

N a ti o n a l C o ll e g e K y o to h a d bee n c o m in g to m y h o u s e
, ,

be fo re th e S ad h u s v i s i t H e i s stu d y ing n a tu ra l sc i en c e
’
.

and h i m i n d i s v e r y r a ti o n a l i s ti c
s He w a s s e e k i ng Li g h t .

i n d c o u ld o n l y s ee d i m l y He w a s un a bl e to be pres e nt a t
.

t h e S ai d h i i s m e e ti n g s bu t c a m e to m y B i ble Cl a ss w h e n I
'

sp o k e a bou t h i m He w a s v e ry q ui e t a n d h ung hi s h ea d
. .

A fe w d a y s a ft e r h e c a ll e d a t a m to s ee m e on hi s w a y . .

to c o ll eg e H i s r i g ht h a n d w a s ba nd ag ed H e told m e th a t
. .

t h e pre v iou s n i g h t h e h a d e xp e r i e n c e d t h e p o w e r o f G o d .

He a w o k e a t a m a fte r a v e r y v i v i d dr e a m i n w h i c h

h i s fa th e r h a d fo rc e d h i m to d o s o m e th i n g a g a i m
. .
,

t h i s w i ll s .

l i e a r o s e fro m h i be d a n d fe l t w i th i n h i m s e l f a sp i r i tu a l
s ,

fo rc e a t w o rk t h a t e x e rc i s e d th e s a m e c o n tr o l o v e r h i s m in d
fa th e r s h a d p h y s i c a ll y I l e s t r o v e t o r e s i s t i t bu t
'

th a t h i s .
,

t h e m o r e h e fo u g h t a g a i n s t i t th e m o re h e fe l t o bl i g e d to g i v e
l n c o n sc i o u sl y h i s h a n ds w e r e cl a sp ed a n d h e beg a n
'

way .
,

t o t r e m bl e s i o le n tly un t i l h i s w h o l e m i n d a n d bo d y w e r e
fi ll e d w i th j o y un sp ea k a b l e
'

He w e pt a l o u d s o th a t h i s
.

fr i e n d si n a n e i g h bo u r i n g ro o m w o k e u p a n d c a m e i n to s e e
w h a t w a t h e m a tte r
s .

T h e y u n g m a n pr e a c h e d o e a r n e s tl y th a t b e c o n s ta n tl y
o s

s tr u ck h i s r ig h t h a n d o n t h e d e k u n ti l i t w a h u rt s s .

h e to ld m e th i s s to r y I e x p l a i n e d to h i m t h a t C h r i s t
wa s c a ll i n g h i m a n d h e m u t c o n fe ss Hi m a n d te ll o th e rs
,
s

o f h i s e xp e r i e n c e .

T h a t e s e n i n g r etu rn i ng fro m C o ll eg e w i th tw o s tu d en ts
, ,

o n e a m e d i c a l fr i e n d a n d t h e o th e r a r e n e g a d e C h r i s ti a n he ,

be g an to sp e a k v e r y e a r n e tl y a bo u t t h e S a s i o u r w h e n a s ,

cro w d g a th e red r o u n d to h e a r T h e r e n e g a d e ( h ri s ti a n .
'

l i te n ing to h i s w o rds w e p t o u t h i r e p e n ta nc e a n d s a i d t h a t
s s ,
 C A LLED ,
CH O S EN , F A I THF UL 11 5

fo r th e fi rs t time h e h a d un d e rstoo d C h r isti a nit y a n d w ou ld

foll o w C h r i s t Thu s i s the S ad hu s s hort v isit bea r ing fruit
’
.

in the l i v es o f ou r p eopl e .

J a pa nese Christi a n s h a v e bee n c a l led to co n sider

e a r n estly such gre a t m a t ters a s sing l e -minded n ess a n d
purit y of a spira tion a ft er union w ith God ; t h a t pra y er
is n ot mere l y a ski n g be n efits but e n tering into c o mm u
n io n w ith Go d ; a n d th a t full self-surrender to Chris t
me a n s a g l a d w i l l ingness to do a n d suffer His w ill eve n
if it lea d to the s a crifice o f life itse l f On e su c h s a y s
.

B ec ause h e h as g one a ll the w ay p oss i bl e i n some d i r ections

he s p ea ks w it h author ity as a mes seng e r from G od .

A Ja p a n ese la d y a fter he a ri n g o f how S und a r fou n d

,

Christ exc l a imed

,

A d e ar frien d o f mine d ee pl y d i ss a ti s fi ed w ith the o ld

,

tea ching (o f his o w n r e l i g ion ) s t rug g l ed h a rd to fi n d l i g ht

, ,

bu t fa i l ing he fl un g hi ms e l f into a w a te r fa ll w hen he w as

bu t ei g hteen y e a rs o f a g e Al as " m y fr ien d k new nothin g
.

o f Ch ri st h a d no one to g o to in hi s d a rk n e ss ; the g r oun d

,

s l i pp ed aw a y from un d er his feet a n d so he en d ed his l i fe

, .

For the help of such a s these S und a r S i n gh we n t to Ja p a n .

I n Chi n a the S adh u fou n d t he people still with a

love a n d revere n ce for their a n cient fa iths a n d decl a res ,

them ca p a ble of high spiri t u a l developme n t I n both .

Ja p a n a n d Chin a he w a s a m a z ed to fi n d h o w by re a so n
of there being no ca ste disti n ctions a s in Indi a the ,

a c c ept a n c e of Christi a nit y wa s m a de so much simpler

from a soci a l st a ndpoi n t .

A missio n a ry wrote from P eki n g

I n Pe k ing h i s c om ing w as mos t time l y an d I t rust h as
,

g i v en th e Pe k ing C athedr a l c on g reg ation a g reat l i ft It .

w as g oo d to s ee a M ethod is t t ra n sl atin g fo r the S ad hu i n

the C a th edr a l I t w as fu ll er th a n it e v e r h a d been on a
.
‘

S un d a y a nd a t the M on d a y m eeting —a su dd e nl a noun c e d

,
y n
s eri dc e
g —th e C athe dr a l w as a g a in fu ll H i s w a y o f p utti n g
.

thi ng s i n E ng li sh is a ft er the mod e l o f the Gos pels .

l 16 S AD H U S UN D A R S IN GH

On t he S und ay eve n ing he prea ched to Europe a n s

and A merica n s i n the Un io n Church F rom Peking .

he w rote s a y ing he wa s in e xc ellen t he a lth an d e nj o y ing

the rea l cold o f the fi n e clim a te .

A t H a nko w i n flue n za w as ra ging bu t he w a s a ble ,

to do some w ork The so n of the grea t missio n a ry

.
,

Hudso n Ta y lor tr an sl a ted fo r him in to Chinese He

, .

t he n p a ssed further into S h a ns i Pro v ince to the pl a ce

w here in 1 900 m a n y mi s sion a ries w ere m a rt yred a long
w ith numbers of Chinese W he n he hea rd h o w bra vel y
.

they suffered a n d h o w e v en bo y s h a d stood firm a s

,

th ey w atched their pa ren ts do n e to de at h before th ey

w ere c a l l ed o n to suffer his soul wa s stirred t o its
,

profou n dest depths .

He a r ri v ed une x pected l y a t N a nking so th a t no ,

prep a ra tion s h a d bee n m a de for him The Rev J G . . . .

Ma g c e w ent to the sta tion to meet a frie n d a n d finding ,

the S adhu there he took him home Mr M a gee s a ys . .

H e pre ached at a ch ap e l r ec ent l y o p ened a n d the p eopl e ,

w e re mu c h i m pr es s ed by him p e rson a ll y a n d by hi s st r i k in g
.
,

mess ag e with its uni q u e i ll us t ra tion s They are sti ll ta l k ing

.

a bout him J ust to d a y a y oung Chinam an sa i d to me

'

-
.
,

w ithout m y ra i s ing t h e su bj ect th at the Chu rch mem be rs

,

be l ie v ed in S un d a r S ing h H e m ea nt th at S un d a r S ing h
.

w as l ea d ing the C h r isti a n l i fe m o re fu ll y tha n he h a d e v e r seen .

I n the a ft ern oo n he spoke to a group o f n ew co n verts ,

a n d a t n ight to a meeti n g o f missio n a ries o n VVi tn e ss

”
be a ring . Yo u w ould n ot n eed to be told of the
”
effect of his w ords o n such a subj ect to suc h a n a udie n ce ,

the w riter a dds .

His o wn w it n es s -be a ring i n those regio n s the n c a me

to a n en d a n d within a short t ime he fou n d himself
,

a mongst friends in M a dra s a n d with their he l p speedi l y

,

rea ched S im l a From there he wen t o n to S a ba thu

.
,

whe n he o n ce more occupied t he room where fo u rt ee n

 CHA P TE R XXX

C H RI S T SENT ME To PREA C H T HE GO S PE L

Ch ri s t s e n t m e to pre ach th e g o spe l —1 Co ri n th i a n s i 1 7

. . .

I h a v e fu ll y pre a ch e d th e g o sp e l o f C h ri st Ye a so h a v e I
.
,

st ri v ed to pre ac h th e g o spel w h ere C h ri st wa s n o t n a m ed

.

a s i t i s w ri tten To w h o m He w as n o t spo ke n o f th e y s h a ll see

, ,

a n d th e y th at h a v e n o t h e a rd s h a ll u n de rsta nd — Ro m an s xv . .

1 9—21 .

IT is a n a ckno wledged fa ct th a t some sermo n s a re

more po w e rful in print th a n when de l ivered Th e .

re v erse how e v er is e v en more true for m a n y rea l l y

, , ,

grea t sermons w ith fa r-re a ching results w ould m a ke but

a poor sho w on p a per The desire h a s been e x pressed in
.

se v era l qu a rters for the sermons of S adhu S unda r S ingh

to a ppe a r i n book form a n d a Ta mi l editio n o f su c h
,

a book h a s been pub l ished But those w h o k n ow him

.

best an d the tr ue v a lue of his w ork fee l doubtfu l a s to

, ,

w hether such a book c a n possib l y do him j ustice .

ad h u S und a r S i n gh is a good pre a cher ; he loses

'

no time i n figures of speech wa stes no w ords o n fine ,

phra ses He is direct cle a r c oncise N eed l ess to sa y

.
, , .
,

he is i n de ad ea rn es t an d lea ves n o single he a rer i n

,

doubt as to the obj ect he h a s i n view N o hesita tio n in .

deli v e ry or h a z i n ess o f expre ssion m a rs the effe ct o f

w h a t he h as to sa y He n ever a ppe a rs without a
.

m ess age s t ra ight from Go d a n d his cle a r v oice ca rries th a t

,

messa ge to the remotest limits of his a udien c e howe v er ,

1 20 S AD H U -
S UND A R S IN G H

d u l n ess creep i n to giv e oppo rt u n i ty t o heedless he a rers

to sta re a bo u t .

Co n sta ntl y i n parable o r fro m a c tu a l person a l expe ri

en ce Sad h u: S un da r S i n gh illus t ra t es wh a t he h as t o
,

sa y, an d a lway s a p t l y an d striki n gl y I n lec turi n g t o .

n o n -Chri s t i a n s he co n te n ds t h a t religio n is n ot a m a tter

of a rgume nt but o f experie n ce a n d proves very conclu ,

si v el before h e h a s do n e t h a t this is so However mixed

y .

his a udie n ce ma y be n o n e c a n g o a wa y without t he

,

deep i mpre ssio n o f h a vi n g hea rd the t ru t h Lovers of .

Jesus C h ri st are fo rt i fied i n t h eir fa ith t he ca reless a re ,

brough t sudde n ly t o a s ta n dsti ll an d m ade to recon sider

t h e i r positio n Though t ful n o n -Christi a n s are brough t
.

fa ce t o fa ce with the ques t io n w hether Christ h a s a n y

cl a im o n them a n d a s a result m a n y h a ve bee n brought
,

to th e feet o f t he S a viour .

The r ea l sig nific a n ce o f the pre a chi ng o f t he S ad h u

lies i n his t riumph a nt rea ffirm a t ion of the eter n a l thi n gs
of spiri t u a l li fe The ch a rm of the mess a ge h a s brought
.

n ew life to m a n y Chri st i a n s who before his comi n g h a d

,

sc a rc e ly felt t he vi t a l po wer o f Christ i n their own lives ,

a n d t o whom religio n wa s more or less a lifeless t h i n g .

For m a n y of t h ese t he firs t flush o f zea l an d devotio n

fo r Chris t h ad p a ssed awa y a n d the pressure o f the ,

world h a d blurred t he hea ve n ly v isio n .

But S ad h u S u n d a r S i n gh comi n g fres h from the

,

continu a l commu n io n h e holds wit h h i s Lo rd sta n ds ,

’
a mo n gst me n i n his S adhu s robes fil led wi t h a mess a ge
,

so persu a sive so i n sis t e n t so a ttra ct ive t h at o n ce a ga i n

, , ,

is felt the po w er an d t he sweet n ess of a S a viour wellnigh

forgotten He dra ws h is life from Go d s u n fa iling
. \
’

sp r in g s of j o y a n d co mm u n ica t es somet hi n g of th a t j o y
,

to those who see an d hea r him u n til they too a re fired ,

w ith desire to d r i nk a t the s ame fou nta i n a n d sh a re the

s a me b l iss .
 CH RI S T S EN T ME T O PR E A CH THE G O S P E L 1 21

His m e ss age to Christia n s is stro n g an d impressive .

It is urge nt an d compelli n g poi n ti n g t o higher a n d

,

n obler idea ls of livi n g w h ich his hea rers must heed o r

,

be left worse o ff th an before he c a me .

I n prea chi ng t o n o n -C hrist i a n s he n ever a tta ck s

t heir religio n o r uses u n brotherl y terms o f repro a ch .

Bu t h e fea rlessl y te stifies t o his ow n fa ilure a fter lo n g

a n d p a i nful se a rc h t o fi n d pe a ce j o y a n d sa tisfa c t io n
, , ,

a p a rt from God s great revel at io n i n Jesus Christ

’
.

N either a rg ume nt no r philosoph y bu t t he i n spira t io n ,

whi c h comes from the simple y et powerful tes t im on y to

the po wer o f Go d to redeem from sin is h is me t h od o f ,

dra wi n g n o n -Christi a ns to t he feet of Christ .

The S adhu goes ba ck to fou n d a tio n t hings : Go d s ’

love Christ s wit n ess i n lif e a nd dea t h to t h a t love th e

’

un fa i l ing power o f th at love to sa ve a ll wh o a ccept it ;

an d supremel y Christ a n d His cross are his t heme .

He speaks o f O n e he i nt im a tely k n ows ; O n e whose

po wer he h as n ever cea sed to experie n ce from t he hou r
whe n tha t O n e a ppea red t o h im as a bo y ; O n e who i s
his compa n io n d ay an d ni gh t an d for whom he h a s gi v e n
,

up everyt hi n g tha t l i fe c an offer His h e a rers are c o n

.

scious t ha t be fore t hem s ta n ds a man who is LI VI N G

Christ as well as pre a ch i n g Him .

’
S adhu S un d a r S ingh s ow n perso n a li ty ca rries weig h t
wi th his messa ge A t o n e o f h i s early meeti n gs i n t he
.
'

South whe n his address wa s over h e sa t dow n before

, ,

t he tran sl atio n was completed an d i t t he n beca m e mos t

,

diffi t fo r th e good tra n sl a t or to keep the a t te nt io n

of th e a udie n ce to th e e n d At l a ter m eet i n gs h e r e m a i ne d
.

s ta n di n g u nt il th e tran sla ti on was fi ni s hed whe n n o t ,

a n e e was turn ed a w a
y for a mo me nt I t is h i mself
y .

a n d his messa ge combi n ed tha t i s po w erfu l to i n flue n ce

tho se wh o receive t hat m essage fro m hi s li ps .
 S AD HI S UND A R S ING H
'

The w riter of Ec c e Ho mo s a v s
T he fi rs t ste p tow a rd s a g ood d i spos ition i s fo r a man to
fo rm a s t rong pe rs on a l at ta chment . Le t th e o bj ec t o f th a t
a tt a c h m ent be a p e rs on o f s tr i k in g a n d c on sp i cuou s g ood ness .

H e wi ll e v er ha v e be fore h i s ey es a n i d ea l o f w h at he hi ms el f
m a y bec ome .E xam ple i s a p e rs on a l in fl uenc e .

The S adhu w here v er he g o e s i s a ble to a wa ken this

feeling of s trong perso n a l a tt a chment a n d this po w er he
,

uses e n tirel y to dra w men to Christ Th e c ro wds th a t

.

const a ntl y l inger rou n d th a t they m a y c a t c h si g ht of

him a n d the ho n oura ble tit l e s ofte n a ccorded him
,

volu n ta ril y i n pl a c es where he goes (s u c h a s M a h a tm a

a n d S w a mi i n di c a ting a p a rt a ker o f th e D ivi n e n a ture )
, ,

w itness to t his spirit of person a l de v otio n D e v out .

Christi a n s rea lize th a t if th e S adhu c a n a w a ke n su c h

feeli n gs h o w much gre a ter l oya lt y a n d de v otio n m a y
,

spring from the a ppe a l of Jesus Chri s t Himself A n d .

thus by his person a l ity he l e a ds men u p wa rds to th e

o n e source of spiritu a l life .

M a n y y oung men in the S outh h a v e desired t o become

his discip l es ; but th e a d v ice of th e S adhu to a ll such
is th a t they shou l d ser v e Go d w here th ev a re a n d a mo n gst
tho se a round them
H is c hief w ork the work h e recogni z e s a s th at s pe c i a ll y
,

given him by God lies be yond th e l imit of o rdin a ry

,

churches a mongst those i n a c c e ss ib l e to their in fluence

,

a n d su a sion To the churches h e comes to imp a rt a

.

deeper glow an d s t ern er purpose but he pa s ses on his

,

wa y w ithout ta bul a ting resu lt s o n l y le a ving be h ind

,

a bu r ning mes sa ge a n d a n i n spiri n g memory His .

simp l i c ity i s a rebuke to a ll se l fish l o v e o f the wor l d a n d ,

his prese n t a tio n of Christi a n ity is ca lcu l a ted to c orrect

the erro n eous idea tha t it is onl y a reli g ion suited to
”
western ers i n which I n di a c a n h a v e no sh a re .

I n Tibet a mids t a hostile people a n d i n c o n sta nt

,
 T H
E M ESSA G E OF TH I S BOO K .

T H I S li t tle bo ok l a y s n o cl a im to bei n g a life of S adhu

S u n d a r S i n gh o r eve n a rec ord of his l a bo urs
, It .

a ttempts to la y b a re the secret o f t he si n gul a rl y be a utiful

ch a ra c t er o f a deepl y religious soul an d seeks t o extend

,

a s well a s to keep i n mi n d t he m a gn etic i n fluence o f a

wholl y co n secrat ed life .

If i n a n y me a sure it shows how o n e go od m an i n

pre a ching a n d livi ng Christ so presen ts Him to th e wo rld
”
a s to dra w a ll m en u n to Him, and if oth er hea rts a re
stirred t o a deeper devo t io n to Christ an d so ca t ch some
’
t hi n g o f the S adhu s spirit its p u rpose w ill be served
, .

It is a gre at j o y to re n der this sm a ll t ribu t e t o the

a m a zi n g power o f S adhu S u n d a r S i n gh to t urn me n to

Christ a n d it is offered t o the re ader by o n e who h as

,

experie n ced th at po wer i n the hope a n d with t h e pra yer

,

th a t its messa ge m ay be blessed of Go d to a ll who will

receive i t .

R J P . . ,

J ES U S SA I D

I , if I be li fted up wi l l dr aw all men unto M y sel f .

 AP PEN DI CES

I THE S AD H U
. A ND HI S

S I RD A R S a n a S I N GH ma de va rious a tte mp ts fro m t im e

to time to win bac k h is son , a n d the Urdu le tt er o n t he
next pa ge is o n e o f them I n it h e urged t ha t S u n d a r
.

should m a rry .I do n o t wa nt to ask yo u w h at yo u

thi nk bu t I order yo u to ge t marri ed imm edi ate ly
, .

Ca n yo u n o t se rve y our gu ru Chris t i n a m a rried s tat e

, ,

D oes t he Chri s t i a n religio n tea ch disobedie n ce to

pa re n ts H e t he n goes o n to sa y h e wi ll lea ve large
“

sums of mo ney to S u n d a r if o n l y he will ca rry o n th e

fa mily n a me an d a lso chides h i m fo r li v i n g in po verty
,

a n d dressi ng so p oo rl
y .

I n hi s reply S u n d a r respectfully remi n ds h is fa th er

of the defin i t e ca ll he h as h a d to live t he true sa dhu life
i n which ma rri age is impo ssible an d th a t w h e n h e , .

bec a me a Chris t i a n h e ga ve u p a ll th oug h t of ea rthly

wea l th a ddi n g
, Yo u a re wis e an d ex pe rie n ce d an d c a n
,

do as se ems be s t ; as fo r me ha vi n g o n c e pu t my ha n d
,

t o th e plough I will n ot loo k ba c k .

After fourtee n yea rs of u n sw e rvi ng lo yal ty to C h ri s t

S adhu s ma n y pra yers were glori o usly a n swered w h e n he
’

visi t ed his old h o me m Oc tober 1 91 9 Hi s ag ed fath er

, .

welco med h im with j o y a n d duri n g th e few d ay s t h ey

,

were toge th er S u n da r had t he grea t ha pp i ne ss of hea ri n g

tha t hi s fa th er had at last give n hi s heart to th e Sa vi ou r
F A C S I M I LE OF S I RD A R sn a a sm o u s
’
LE TT E R TO HI S S O N .
 I I T R A V E LLI N G
. 1x TI B ET

U P O N his return from Tibet l a st a utum n the s adhu wrot e

the follo w i n g a ccount o f his j ourney :
I n the begi nn i n g of Jul y 1 9 1 9 I left Kotga rh for
, ,

Ti bet i n compa n y w ith a Christi a n w hose Tibeta n n a me

is Th a n i ya t The Tibet a n frontier is nea rl y 1 30 miles
.

beyond Kotga rh a n d prea ching in Hi ra th R c mp u r

, , ,

B u sh a h er Goura
, S a cha n
, Ch a ura Tra n d a Po u n ta
, , , ,

Ha c h a r K e d ga on K a reh a an d K e m ph c ra n w e a rri v ed
, , , ,

a t Ya n gp a w hi c h is th e fi rst to w n of Tibet
,
From here .

fo r fort y miles th e country is entirel y j u n gle a n d there

is n ot a si n g l e v ill a ge or d welli n g-pl a ce onl y here a n d ,

there a flock of sheep a n d shepherd c o me into v ie w .

“ e rem a i n ed i n this wildern ess fi v e n ights ; o n e night

'

w e s pent under a tree a n d a nother n ight in a c a ve ; for

fr om n o w on w a rd s for a long dist a n ce there a re n o trees
bec a use of the extreme co l d a n d grea t height so th a t ,

sc a r c el y a bl a de of gra ss springs up a n ywhere A s fa r .

a s the ey e c a n re a ch there is n ot h i n g bu t b a re mou n ta i n s

a n d pl a tea ux .

T11 13 Co w o r r m: M O U N TA I N S
At a height o f feet we slept o u t o n the ope n
p l a in w hen the c o l d wa s so i n ten se th a t a ll feeling w ent
out of th e bod y a n d we be ca me n umb a ll over The .

w hole o f one n ight the ra i n fell i n torrents a n d in the ,

bit t er cold we ha d to sit a ll n igh t u n der a n umbrell a .

 A PP E N D I C ES 1 29

This pl a ce is a very d a ngerous o n e fo r m a n y pe ople ,

h a ve died there i n the sno w .

O n Jul y 1 5 we ca me to Ha n gpu La Pa ss w hich is

n ea rl y feet high w here we sa w the co rpses o f
,

three me n wh o h a d died from the terrific cold At this .

gre a t height w e cou l d sca rcely dra w o u r brea th our ,

hea ds a n d lungs w ere fi l led w ith p a i n an d t he bea ting of ,

o u r he a rts sou n ded in our e a rs Here is a gre a t gla cier

.

on whi c h m a n y people h a v e lost their li v es a n d their ,

bod ies h a v e n ever been re c o v ered to this d a y Th a nks .

be to God w e p a ssed through t his a w ful pl a ce i n s a fet y .

O n Jul y 1 6 we a rrived a t a Tibeta n v ill a ge c a lled Mudh ,

w here the he a dm a n recei v ed us i n to his house ki n dly ,

a n d th a t n igh t he in v ited a n import a n t La m a t o di n e

w ith us who u n derstood Hi n dust a n i a n d w e pre a ched

, ,

the W ord He listened w ith gre a t a tte nt io n a n d

.

p l ea sure an d did n ot preve n t others from hea ring a lso .

The ne x t d a y w e w e n t o n t o Ta li n g a n d S a n gn a m a n d
a ga i n from there to I n a m b K v eli n g
, Kuri n g a n d S a li n g
, , ,

a n d still further o n to S ide n g S a ra Koze a n d Ra n g ri g

, , , ,

a n d prea ched i n ever pla ce we p a ssed th rough

y .

l ve t he n ca me to Koo Gu n ra where there is a l a rge

,

temple I n the buildi n g con n ected W ith i t some 400

.

La m a s reside the He a d La m a h a vi n g bee n se nt direc t

,

from Lh a s a This Hea d La ma is co n n ec t ed with Lh a sa

.

a n d w a s a ppoi n ted t hrough t he La m a T a shi With him .

we rem a i n ed two d a ys a n d h e ga v e us little trouble ,

a l t hough he was v e r kee n o n discussi n g religio n with us

y .

I N PE R I LS o r R rv n as

I n Tibet t h ere a re n o t o n l y o n e bu t m a n y ki n d s o f
h a rdships a n d di fficulties T h ere a re n o ro a ds a n d
.
,

a lthough t here a re m a n
y s t rea ms an d rivers t here a re n o
bridges t o cross them a n d th e wa t er is a l wa y s a s c o l d
,

9
l 30 A PP E ND I C ES

as ice . W
here v er the w a t er w as sh a llow e n ough w e
w ere a ble to s w im a cross but sometimes the curre n t
,

wa s so st rong a n d the ri v er bed so full o f rocks th a t

s w imming beca me impossible O n e d a y in s w imming .

a cross the river Mora ng I re a ched the other b a nk w ith

gre a t di ffi culty fo r the w a ter w a s so i n te n sel y cold tha t

,

m y w hole bod y beca me stiff a n d n umb A t Th a ni ya t I .

fel l a n d went u n der the w a ter three times a n d w ith gre a t

stra ini n g a n d difficulty I got out of th a t river a river in ,

w hich m a n y me n h a ve su n k ne v er to rise a ga i n .

Foo d is a n other difficult problem i n Tibet There is .

n othing to eat a n d drink in most p la c es e xc ept ca mp a

o r s a ttn (fried b a rle y flour ) a n d a kind o f te a w hi c h is

mi x ed w ith s a lt a n d butter A ga in a n d a g a in the fried

.

b a rley wa s so bad th a t e v e n horses a n d a sses would not

ea t it I n a ll these difficulties there wa s this g rea t
.

comfort th a t this was t he cross of Christ an d w a s n ec es

, ,

sa ry fo r the sa l v a tio n of souls For me Christ forsook .

hea ve n a n d took upo n Him self the burden of the Cross ,

so th a t if I h a ve left I n di a to come i n to Tibet o n Hi s

beha l f to c l a im souls fo r Him it is n ot a grea t thing to
,

do bu t if I h a d no t co me it would h a ve been a drea dful

thi n g fo r this is a divi n e comm a n d
,
.

T II E S I N o r WAS H I N G C LO TH E S
Tibe ta n houses a re v ery sma ll a n d exceedi n gly dirty .

The y a re bui l t o f ston es a n d mud a n d the smell Of the ,

people is u n bea ra ble In t he vill a ge o f La ra I sa w a ma n

.

w h o wa s quite bla ck wi th dirt a n d I t hi n k he could n ot

,

h a ve h a d a b a th for fiftee n y ea rs a t lea st The people s .

’

cloth es a l t hough m a de of w hite w ool from filth look a s

, ,

if they were ma de of bla ck lea ther bec a use t hey n e v er ,

w a s h their clothes
’

I n th e vi lla ge of Ki war we wa shed

.

our clo t h es i n a strea m an d every bod y c a me t o see .

1 32 A P PE N D I C E S

the cus t om is for the eldes t so n to rem a i n a t home to

look a fter the propert y a n d a ll the rem a ini n g so n s
,

become La m a s or priests M a n y p e ople w rite upon .

p a per o r cloth t ex t s from their s a cred books (of which

,

there are 1 08 volumes c a lled K ha ng i ryu r ta ng i ryu r) a n d

h a ng them as fl a gs a bo ve the roofs of their h ouses A lso .

they wri te the sa cred words OM M ANE PAD M E H UM

m a n y t imes o n p a per a n d pl ace the roll i n side a bra ss
,

wheel w hich they co n ti n u a ll y turn rou n d a n d round .

S ome fa s t e n them o n w a termills sometimes wri t in g them ,

o n sto n es which t he y pl a ce i n a hea p an d go ro u n d them .

These a s it w ere are their pra y ers by w hich they bel ieve
, , ,

t he y will ga i n forgive n ess o f sins a n d obt a i n blessi n g .

Co n cer n i n g t he true God these people kno w n o t hi n g ,

but i n t heir religio n t he y h a v e a ki n d o f Tri n it y which

is ca lled S a ngi K u n c h ek o r Buddh a God La m a K u n c h ek
, ,

o r P ries t God ; an d t o K u n c h ek o r S cript ure God , .

Buddhism e n tered Tibet a bout A O 629 i n the t ime Of . .

Ki n g S h a n g Ta i n g S u g a n po a n d La m a ism wa s fou n d ed
,

in A D 7 49 by Pad m a sa mbh aVe wh o s ta rted t he first

. .
,

mo n astery n ea r Lh a s a .

I n t he y ea r A D 1 640 a Mo n goli a n pri n ce G a sa ri Kh a n

. .
, ,

co n quered Tibet a n d m a de a prese n t t o the Gra n d La ma

of D repu n g Mo n a stery w ith the title of D a la i o r Ocea n
who t h us bec a me the first K i n g-P riest a n d is k n own as
the D a la i La m a His n a me wa s Ma g wa n Loba n g
. .

Bei n g very a mbiti ous a n d wa n ting to combin e the rule

o f t he S ta te wi t h t he Church he decl a red himse lf a n ,

inc a rn a t io n o f the fa mous Ch en re z i n g A v a loki t esvara ,

the tutel a ry deity of Tibet The Tibe ta n s were n o .

doub t delighted to ha ve a s ruler a n i n ca rn a tio n of su c h

a divi n it y an d t he scheme worked w ell
, but i n order n ot ,

to offe n d the O lder a n d i n o n e se n se superior La m a of

, ,

Troshi Sh u mpo h e decla red this La m a a n inc a rn a t io n o f

,

A mit a bh a .Thus D a l a i La m a decl a red h irn se lf a n

 A PP E N D I C E S 1 33

inca rn a t io n of A va lokitesva ra while th e Ta s h i La m a is

,

a n in c a r n a tio n o f a h igher dei ty y et it is a n impa ssive

,

deity who ca nn ot meddle with worldly a ffa irs which a re

left to his spiri tu a l so n A va lokitesva ra represe n ted by ,

the D a la i La ma of Tibet
’

THE H E R MITS OF TI B E T
The li v es o f m a n y Tibet a n h e rmits a re very wonderful .

They shut themse l v es in a d a rk room S ome do this .

for mo n ths a n d some for y ea rs a n d some fo r the w hole

, ,

of life They a re so shut a w ay t h a t they n e v er s ee the

.

sun an d n ever come out Of doors but a l wa y s sitting ,

in the d a rk they c ontinue turning a prayer-w heel in

their h a nd j ust a s if they w ere livi n g i n a gra ve In .

the s e sm a l l rooms is a tin y w indo w or ho l e through w hi c h

'

the people p a ss food to these hermits I tried to get .

‘

into c on v ers a tio n w ith them but ne v er h a d a proper

,

O pportunity an d a ll I could do was to thro w some

,

S c ripture po rtio n through the hole i n the h O pc the y

mi g ht re a d it if e v er th ey c a me out .

This le s son I lea rnt fr om them : th a t if these people

w i l l endure s uch suffering i n order to a tta i n N irv a n a ,

in whi c h there is no future life o r hea ve n l y h a ppines s

nor a n y hope be l ie v i n g tha t S a l v a tion lies i n extermin a ting
,

de s ire a n d spirit a n d life h o w much more sh a ll we n ot

,

t a ke up the cross w it h j o y for Christ— the j o y of o u r

e n tra nce i nto etern a l life a n d of His gre a t serv ice who
h a s g i v en a n d w il l gi v e 11s a ll thi n gs
In thi s c o u n trv beca u s e o f the sno w a n d intense cold
, ,

there is on l y one h a r v e s t in the y ea r which is so wn i n ,

Ma y a n d rea ped in S eptembe r I n some pl a ces whea t

.
,

a n d in others must a rd a re se wn S ome O f the j u n gl y

.
,

cou n try is be a utiful w ith flo wers ; wild o n io n s a n d eve n

gra m a re sometimes seen But a la s " a ll sort s o f e v i l
.
1 34 A PP E N D I C E S

cus t oms an d horrible wicked ness preva i l , the very

me n tio n of which is im p ossible here .

IN J O U R N E Y I N G S O FT E N
We we n t t o a number o f other pl a ces a n d worked
a mo n gst t he people re t urn i n g by a nother wa y through
,

K ya m o Ha l M a ling K hurik S u mli n g P hiti a n d B o ld ar

, , , , , , .

My desire was t o go a lone to K a i la sh a n d R a s a r but ,

t hi s y ea r m y j ourney to Tibet w a s gre a t l y del ay ed .

Betwee n Jul y 3 0 a n d A ugust 9 o n th a t side the mount a i n s

become thickl y co v ered w ith sno w a n d there a re m a n y ,

ri v ers a n d stre a ms a lthough some ri v ers h a ve bridges

,

o f ice stretchi n g a cross them But the r e a re m a n y .

rivers which h a ve n o bridges a t a ll a n d t hey a re to o

d a n gerous for swimming so th a t it seemed a s if every ,

wa y was clos ed a n d t here w as no choice but to return

,
.

May God gra nt th a t i n the coming A pril I m a y j ourney

to every pla ce If I h a d rem a ined u n til S eptember th e
.

h eav y sn o w s w ou l d h a v e effectu a l l y b a rred m y return

_ ,

and b
y October it would h a v e been impos sible to re a ch

I n di a
.

T II E F I R S T F R U I T o r C O M I N G H A RV E S T
This time I w e n t fort y-eigh t sta ges into Tibet ea c h ,

d a y bei n g a bou t te n mi l es I should like to te l l of e v ery

.

pl a ce I visited but there is 110 time for more th a n this

,

brief a ccou n t Those Chri sti a ns w h o l ive i n Tibet itse l f

.

a n d o n th e borders a re b
y God s gra ce w e l l a s fa r a s I
’

a m a ble to find out There is a bo y i n Tseri n g w h o

.

knows Hi n dus t a n i we l l a n d w as very desirous of return

i n g to I n di a with me bu t h i s mother preve n ted him
, .

I trust a n other y e a r h e w i l l c o m e w ith m e a n d h a ving ,

 III T I B E T
. AND THE G REA T W A R

WH I LS T the first editio n of t his bo ok was goi n g t hro u gh

t h e p ress En gl ish p a pers published the followi n g
Tibet the most soli ta ry of th e h ermi t na t io n s h as
, .
,

come forward wi t h a n offer of a hu n dred thousa n d me n

t o help fight the b a ttles of democra cy o n the Europe a n
fro n t Our a wed im a gi n at io n s h a ve li n gered over the
.

impossible t errors of the ro a d t o Lh a sa forbidde n o n ,

pa i n of dea th to outsiders The ba rred doors swi n g wide

.

o n rust
y hi n ges an d the Gra nd La m a mos t seclud ed
, ,
’
of t he world s mo na rchs steps in to th e fast -run n i ng
,

curre n ts o f twe nt ie th ce n tury h i s t ory as t he frie n d a n d

”
defe n der o f dem o cra cy .

The n a tura l pra y er o f the Christi a n is th a t this closed

l a n d m a y n ow O pen its doors to the Go spel a n d t h at ,

s adhu S u n d a r S i n g h ma y see o f th e t ra va il o f his

”
soul i n bri n gi n g Tibet to the feet of Chri st .
 IV . THE S u ms

THE S ikh S ta tes lie i n the Pu nj a b roughly spea ki n g ,

bet w ee n the rivers G a n ges a n d I n dus a n d a re bo u n ded ,

o n the n orth by the mou nta i n ous regio n th at sepa ra tes

them from Tibet a n d the Chi n ese Empire The t wo .

c a pita ls a re A mrits a r a n d La hore .

N a n a k wa s the first o f the Gurus o r Te a chers of t he

S ikhs. He w a s bor n at Ra ya pur in 1 469 From c h ild .

h ood he was i n cli n ed to devot io n a n d indifferen t to

worldly concern s His fa ther sought to divert his mi n d
.

from religious t hi n gs a n d o n o n e occ a sio n se n t him t o

,

tra n sa c t some busi n ess for h im w hich was t o result i n

,

fin an ci a l profit O n th e wa y Na n a k met some h u n gry

.

’
fak i rs a n d divided his fa ther s money bet wee n them
, ,

O bserv i n g
, The ga i n of t his world is t ra nsie nt I wish .

t o relieve th ese p oo r me n a n d thus obta i n th a t ga i n which

is etern a l
. A fter pa rtaking o f food the fa ki rs e n tered
i n to a long discourse upo n t he u n it y of God with which ,

Na n ak wa s grea tl y delighted R eturn i n g to his home

.
,

his fa ther a sked wh a t profit he h a d brought a n d rec ei v ,

ing the repl y th a t he h a d fed the poor his fa ther a bused ,

a n d even struck him Ra i Bo l a r the ruler of the district

.
, ,

he a ri n g o f th is interdic ted Na n a k s father from e v e r

,
’

a ga i n tre a ti n g h im in this w a
y a n d he himself hum bl y
,

bowed i n ve n era tion before N a na k .

Na n a k t he n a dopti n g the sa ffro n robe bega n to

'

, ,

pra ctise the austerities of a hol y man a n d soo n beca me ,

1 38 A PP E N D I C ES

ce l ebra ted for the goodness of his life a n d ch a ra cter .

He tra v elled to m a n y Hi n du holy pl a ces a n d even to ,

Mecca itself i n order to purify t he worship o f both

,

Hindus a n d Muh a mm ad a n s W herever he j ourn e y ed he

.
,

pre a ched the doctri n e of the uni ty a n d om n ipresence

o f Go d. Born i n a province w here these two ra ces w ere
u t terl y opposed to ea ch other he yet strove to blend ,

them i n o n e h a rmonious pe a ce an d to bri n g them b a ck

,

to a simple a n d pu re religio n .

Na n a k t a ught th a t de v otion w a s due to one Go d ,

a nd idol worship must be b a n ished his O bj ect being to,

reform n ot to destroy exis t ing religio n s Before his

, , .

de a th his followers h a d become a distinct sect an d were ,

k n o w n a s S ikhs , whi c h mea n s D iscipl es I n a ll his .

w riting Na n a k bo rrowed indis c rimin a tel y from the

S hastra s an d "ur an
’
M a n y of the ch a pters o f th e A d i
.

Gra n th were w ritt e n by N a n a k a n d were i n v erse .

Na n a k desired t o a bo lish a ll ca ste disti n ctio n s a n d pl a ce ,

a ll me n o n a n equ a li t He a lso decl a red th a t the most

y .

a ccepta ble O fferi n gs to Go d are mor n i n g pra ise a n d the

prese n t at io n o f the bod y to him .

A ft er the de a th O f N a n a k o t her le a ders follo w ed to

the n umber of te n the two most fa mous of these be i n g
,

A rq I a n d Govi n d S i n gh A bitter persecutio n of the

.

n e w sect by Mu h a m mad a n s co n verted a ha rmless reli

g i o u s peo ple i nto a gre a t mi lita ry c o mmo n wea l t h ,

determi ne d to a ven ge th e su fferi n gs they h ad e nd ured .

The m a rty rdom o f the i r po n tiff A rj u n turn ed a hitherto

i n offensive sect i n to a b a n d O f fa n a tica l wa rriors Ha r .

Go v i n d o n e of t h eir lea ders a t the time ga ve t o a ll his

, ,

fol l o wers the ho n oura ble n a me o f S ingh (Lio n ) a n d ,

the order th a t n o S i n gh should a l low his ha ir to be c u t

wa s issued a t t he s a me time .

Go v i n d S i ngh the t e nt h a n d las t of th e grea t S ikh

,

le aders or pont iffs wrot e a la rge p a rt o f th e te n th book

,
-
 V S O ME I LLU S T RA T I O N S
’
. O F THE SA D H U S

THE S adhu s a ddresses go to the root of fu n d a men t a l

’

thi n gs such a s repe n t a nce fa ith s a c rifice A lmost , , .

every po in t is illustra ted by some p a ra ble from n a ture

or some a c t u a l experie n ce The fol l o w i n g a re ex a mples
.

Hu mi li ty — A po or I n di a n o f the sweeper c a s te beca me

a Christi a n an d a high c a ste m a n w h o knew him w as
,

much st ru ck by t he grea t ch a n ge i n him Yo u used to .

c o m e a n d s w eep m y house ; y o u h a d no educa t ion an d ,

y e t I c a nn ot help honouring y o u W h a t h a s ch a nged .

yo u
The s w eeper t ried to e x pl a in the n ew life th a t h a d
come to him bu t s t ill t he high c a ste m a n did n ot under
,

sta n d E spec i a ll y he wondered at o n e thing

. Yo u
a re so goo d a n d et o u a re n o t proud
y , y
W h y should I be proud " a sked the s w eeper .

W he n Christ rode a n a ss into Jerus a lem people brought ,

clothes a n d l a id th em upon the ro a d Yet the feet o f .

o u r Lord did n ot tre a d on them onl y the a ss wa l ked ,

over them W h o e v er hea rd of such ho n our bei n g done

.

to the feet of a n a ss It wa s o n ly be c a use the a ss

ca rried Christ V n en He h ad do n e ri di n g the as s the
’

.
,

bea st wa s of n o a ccount S o I a m o f n o a cco u nt o n l y

.
,

I a m a s i t were bea ri n g Christ a n d it is Him yo u ho n our

, .

If He left me I should be n othing a t a ll

Un i o n wi th a nd Life i n Go d —
From our o w n experie n ce .

we do become united with God y et we do n ot become ,

 A PP E N D I C ES 1 41

God If a pie c e of cold iron is pl a ced in a h o t fire i t w ill

.

glow beca use the fire is i n it Yet we ca nn o t sa y th a t .

the iro n is fire o r the fire is iro n S o i n Jesus Christ .

we reta in our iden t i ty ; He i n us a n d we i n Him bu t ,

w ith o u r o wn i n dividu a li t y .

A ga in we bre a the a i r y et m a n is n ot a i r nor is the

,

a i r ma n S o we bre a the by pra yer the Hol y S pirit o f

.

God bu t w e a re n ot Go d S ome time a g o I sa w two

'

.
,

vill a ges i n t he Him a l a y as th a t w ere sep a rated by a n

impa ss a ble mou n ta i n The direct dista n ce bet w een the
.

t wo was n ot grea t but the j our n ey rou n d t ook t ra vellers

,
\
a w eek to a ccomplish A m a n i n o n e O f the vi l l a ges
.

determined to m a ke a tu n nel through th is mount a in ,

decl a ri n g he w ould give his life to do it if n e c ess a ry He .

st a rted o n the w ork a n d in th e a ttempt h e did a ctu a ll y

,

lose his life W h en I hea rd o f it I thought this m o unt a i n

.

wa s like the wa ll O f our sin keeping us a wa y from God .

Jesus Christ c a me a n d m a de a Li v i n g “ a y by gi v ing

f

His life He ga v e His life o f His ow n will a n d the wa y

.
,

i s O pe n t o a ll who unreservedl y a ccep t Him a s their

S a viour .

The Better P a rt —
O n ce w he n I was c rossing the
mou n t a i n s I m et a girl S h e w a s o f good fa mily a n d
.

was o n pilgrim a ge a n d her ba re feet w ere bleeding

, .

I n a ns wer to m y questio n she s a id I a m looki n g for ,

res t a n d pe a ce an d I hope to ge t t hem before I ge t to

,

t h e e n d o f this pilgrim a ge If I do n o t I sh a ll drow n

.

m y self . I sa w she w as i n e a rn est I thought how .

stra n ge it is tha t people wh o a re born Christi a ns a n d

h ave these gre a t gifts witho u t t a king all this t rouble
shou l d c a re so little for them w hile this w ea lth y girl ,

h a d gi v en up her home a n d a ll she c a red most for to seek

s a l v a tion S h e did not find pea ce on th a t pilgrim a ge
.
,

but she met a mission a ry who t old her a bout Christ I .

sa w her a fterw a rds a n d she told me th a t she h a d fou n d

1 42 A PP E ND I C E S

a ll an d more th a n she h ad sought a dding Me n ma y , ,

kill me if t hey like I h a v e fou n d th a t better p a rt

.

th a t sh a l l n e v er be ta ken a w a y from m e .

Ye the Li g ht —
are f Thc w i
o the W
c k o f a l a mp o rld .

mus t burn a n d lose i t self in order th a t the light ma y

shine The wi c k is bet ween the oil a n d the fl a me
. .

There m a y be ple n t y o f O il but if there be no w ick there ,

c a n be n o ligh t S o to give light t o o t hers we must be

.

rea d y t o s a crifice oursel v es .

Ye are f
the S a lt the Ea rth — If
s a lt is to be of use
o

it must be dissol v ed S O long as i t rem a i n s i n a d ry

.

lump it c a n not gi v e fla v our to our fo od but w hen it is ,

dissolved every gra in of rice h as its proper ta ste a n d

the food is good So w ith i n dividu a l Christi a n s ; they
.

must a lwa y s be gi v i n g o f t hemselves They m a y seem .

to di sa ppe a r a n d be lost bu t th a t is n o t a ctu a ll y the

,

c a se They li v e i n th e lives of those for w hom they h a ve

.

gi v en themsel v es a n d their i n fluence rem a ins

,
.

S afe i n C hri s t — W sm a l l the a ttra ction o f the

e are ,

ea rth i s grea t But powerfu l a s is the force of th e

.

e a rth w hen we gra sp a n y thi n g in our h a nd the a ttra e

,

tion o f the e a rth c a nn ot dra w it a wa y S o w he n we .

a re i n the h a nd of Christ e a rth l things c an h a ve n o

y
power o v er u s for in His k ee pi n g we a re s a fe
,
.

Go d i n Chri st — Hi n dus a re very fon d o f sa ymg th a t

God is i n everythi n g I o n ce ca me to a river which I
.

h ad to cross There was no bo a t to ca rry me over a n d

.
,

I st ood wo n deri n g h o w it could be m a n a ged Then a .

man ca lled my a t te n tio n to a defla t ed w a ter-ski n a n d ,

sa id t h a t w as the o n ly wa y to get a cro ss S o w e i n fla ted .

it w ith a i r a n d I c rossed o v er i n sa fet y The n the .

thought ca me to me th a t there wa s p l enty of a i r a ll

rou n d me but it w as i n ca pa ble of helpi n g me i n my
,
1 4-
4 A PPEN D I C E S

as if in pa i n so he w ent a n d helped it t o get free bu t

, ,

very soo n a ft er it flut t ered a n d died Th e other silk .

worms th a t struggled o u t without help suffered bu t ,

they c a me o u t i nt o full life a nd be a u ty with w1n g s m a de

“

stro n g for flight by their ba t tle for fresh e x istence .

The W a ter f o Life — S ome

time a g o a p a rt y of me n
w ere tra velling in Tibet O n e o f them be c a me v ery
.

thirst y but t here was no wa ter A s they went 011 th ey

, .

sa w some pools surrou n d ed b

y m a rsh y grou n d where the ,

thirs ty m a n det ermin ed to que n ch his thirst Th ose .

wh o k n e w t he n ature of th e coun t ry begged him to wa it

u nt il they s h ould rea ch a sa fe p la ce but he would n ot
,

listen a n d sa id he would ta ke c are He plu n ged a h ea d

, .

to wa rds a pool an d fil l ing his h a n ds bega n t o d ri ri k

, .

He ca lled to his frie n ds to tell them he h ad got his he a rt s ’

desire an d eve n a s he spoke he bega n t o si n k in th e

,

mora ss Soo n he was h a lf buried an d n o o n e could

.
,

ve n ture n ea r t o dra w him o u t a n d his comp a n ion s

,

loo ked h elplessly o n a s he s a nk an d a t len gth he

disa ppe a red mise ra bl y pe rishi n g a s so m a n y d o who
,

dri n k t h e wa te r Of a s i n ful life .

 A D D ED A P P E N D I C E S T O T HE F O U R T H
A M E R I C A N ED I T I O N

A W OR LD EVA N G EL

Th e g l o r i o u s g o spe l o f th e bl es sed Go d wa s my
tru st. A n d I th a n k Je su s Ch ri st wh o h a th en abl ed me, fo r th at
h e c o u nte d me fa i th fu l , pu tti ng me i n to th e mi n i st ry , tha t
i n me fi r st J es u s C h ri st mi g h t S ho w fo rth a ll l o n g s u ff e r i n g , f o r
a pa tte rn to th em w h o S h o u l d h e reafter be l i ev e o n Hi m to
l i fe —1 Ti mo thy 1 l l —l 7
.

ev e rl a st i n g . .
~
= .

G oi n g W es t — T o wa rds th e e n d of 1 91 9 few of th e a

S ad h u s frie n ds h e a rd th a t h e w a s co nt empl a t ing a

’

j ou r n ey t o E n gl a n d bu t wh e n e a rl y i n 1 920 h e se nt
,

th em w o rd th a t i t wa s i mm i n e nt th e n ew s c a me a lmos t
,

a s a bol t from th e bl ue A r r a n geme nt s were s o h u r

.

ried th a t l i tt l e could be done i n p rep a r a t ion a n d m a n y ,

of h is frie n ds were i n i g n o r a n ce of h is pl a n s r i g ht u p
to th e t ime of h is dep a rt u re One re a so n fo r th is w a s
.

th a t th e sad h u desi red to go Wes t u nh er a lded i n o rder

th a t God wh o h a d c a lled h im t o go s h ould be free t o ,

ope n doo rs of ser v i ce wh i c h el a bo r a t e a rr a n geme nt s

mig ht h a v e re ndered imp ossibl e H e h ad h is desi re
.
,

fo r by th e t ime h i s frie n ds were a ble t o wri t e t o E n gl a nd

h e wa s o n h is w a y th i th er .

Wh il s t numbers of p eople were a nx iou sl y a wa i t i n g

p a ss a ges th e S ad h u ob t a i n ed o n e immedi a t el y gett i ng ,

a n e nt i re c a bi n t o h imsel f th u s a ll owi n g p riv a c y fo r

,

de v o t io n a n d res t T h e n ig ht p revi ou s t o h is dep a r

.

1 45
1 46 A PP E ND I C E S

t u r e a f a r ewel l me et ing wa s held i n B omb a y . One

p r esen t s a id ,

To ma n y m aJtte r-o f taic t n a tu r e s t h e th o u g ht s o f a m y sti c

'

a re u n fath o m a bl e bu t to th o se w h o h e a r d h i m spe a k
o ne la s ti n g i mp ressi o n r em a i n s th a t o f a s o u l th a t ha s see n
,

Ch r i s t fa c e to f ac e a n d to w h o m th er e c an be bu t o n e o bj e c t i n
l if e—Ch r i st
,

Hi m sel f l s
Fe w c o u l d i te n to th e to y o f th e S i h
. s r k
la d w h o so u g h t so ea n es t y a fte r l r r t
t u h , w i t h o u t th e i ee e st r d p
l
fee i n g s rr
be i n g st i e d St. a u l a tte . P
h e h ad een th e hea e n yr s v l
vi si o n , c o uld t
bu t e st i fy to i t .

No w I n o t o nl y k
n o w abo u t Ch i s t ; I h a v e s een Hi m, sa y s
r
t r
S adh u o f th e we n t i eth c en tu y ; a n d as h e te s th e s to y , y o u ll r
l pr s
fee wi th h i m th e su r i e h e fel t w h en af te h i s ea n e st a ye r r pr r
”
s d l C r
u d en y h i st sto o d befo e h i m r .

T h e S ad h u left B omb a y by t he C i t y of C a i ro o n
J a nu a r y 1 6t h a n d a f t er a n u ne v en t ful v o y a ge l a n ded
a t L i v e r p ool o n Febru a r
y l 0th .

A m o n g s t "u a kers — T h e S adhu beg a n h is w o rk in

.

E ngl a nd fi rs t a t th e r eques t of th e S o c iet y of F r ie n ds ;

h e w en t from th e no rth t o B i rming h a m t o be th e gues t
of P rincip a l H o y l a nd I n spe a king t o th e s t uden t s of
.

th e F riends M is sio n a r y T r a i n ing C ollege h is s ome wh a t

’

l im i t ed v o c a bul a r y in E ngl is h emb a r r a ss ed h im One .

s t udent s a id t h a t t he s adhu h a d c le a red his doub t s w i t h

r e g a rd to th e A t onemen t Li ke h i s M a s t er h e l i v es
.

’
a bo v e a ll w r a n l i n se ct s a n d c r eeds a n d th e S ad h u s
g g ,

a ppe a l should re a c h th e W es t t h rou g h th is v er

y ch a n
n el sin c e r e g a rd less of di v iding op inions a n d do ct ri n es
,

he se r v es a ll ce a s eles sl y c a ll ing m en b a c k t o v is io n s of
,

C h r is t so t r a ns cendin g a l l m a n m a de di v isions th a t -

h a v e fo r s o l on g held b a c k th e v is ible ch u rc h from

c l a i ming a si n —w r a c ked wo r ld fo r h er Lo r d .

A m o n g s t th e C o wley F a th e r s I n Indi a th e S a d hu .
-

h a d e x pe r ien c ed mu c h s y mp a thet i c ki ndness from th e

Co wl ey F a t he r s i n P oon a a n d th e y g a v e h im a n i n t ro
,

du ct ion t o th ei r F a t her S uper io r a t O x fo rd S o from .

1 48 A PP E N D I C ES

t io n s— a n d we nt ou t v er y g r a v el y i nt o th e ru s h of Fl ee t
”
S t ree t .

T h e W es tmi ns ter G a z e tte s a id of h im

H is smile i r r a di a t es a s t ro n g E a s t ern f a c e a n d
wh e n h e u n be n d s a s wi th l i tt le ch ild ren h e bec omes a ,

W i n some pers o n a l i t
y a n d immed i a t el y wi n s th ei r c o nfi
'

de n ce T h is mo rn i n g a s h e e nt ered th e l i tt le room of
.

th e C o wley F a th ers I th ou g ht I h a d n ever see n suc h a

rem a rka ble E a s t ern figu re Hi s h a i r a n d hea rd a re
.

bl a ck a n d th e ski n i s a w o n derful l y c le a r ol ive

, H is .

g a rb i s th a t of th e I ndi a n a s cet ic a n d h is t a ll m a n l y ,

fi gu re a dds dig ni t y t o th e flowing robe O n h is feet .

were s a n d a l s w h ic h h owe v er h e d is c a rds i n h is o wn

, , ,

c ou nt r y .

“ ‘
W e h a ve ou r c a s t es i n I n di a h e exp l a i n ed t o ,
’

me ou r h ig h c a s t es a n d ou r lo w c a s t es a n d people do
, ,

n o t u nders t a n d y o u if y o u sa y th a t h a vi n g emb r a ced

C h ris t i a ni t y y o u bel on g t o th is se ct o r th a t T h ey .

th ink i t is a n o th er c a s t e I a m free t o go a n ywh ere

.

a n d th ere is n o b a r rier of sec t

’
He is c a rr y i n g out
.

h i s p ri nc iples in E ngl a nd i n a n o t a ble m a nn er H ig h .

C h u rc hme n l ike F a th er B ull a n d E v a n gel i c a l C h u rc h

me n l ike th e R ev C y ril B a rd esley a re a s soci a t ed wi th
.

h i s visi t T h e B is h op o f Lo n do n is to p res ide over a

.

meet i n g of Lo n do n clerg y wh en S ad h u S u n d a r S i n g h
,

w i l l s pe a k A t th e s a me t ime h e is spe a ki n g i n Wes t

.

mi n s t er C h a pel fo r D r J o wett, a n d i n th e M et rop ol i

.

ta n T a ber n a cle fo r th e B a p t i s t s H e i s j u s t t ea c h i n g
.

W es t ern peopl e th e t rue C a th ol i c sp i ri t from E a s t er n

”
li I) s .

m
A o g t th B i s h o s —Ou M a rc h 9 th e S ad h u met
n s e p .

a n d t a lked fo r a n h ou r wi th th e A rc h bis h op of C a nt e r

bu r y , a n d th e foll owi n g d a y h e spoke a t th e Ch u rc h

 A PP E N D I CE S 1 49

H ouse Wes t mi n s t er t o some 7 00 clerg y of th e C h u r ch

, ,

of E ngl a n d i n cludi n g th e A rc h i bi sh o p of C a nt erbu r y

,

a nd s i x B is h op s ; p rob a bl y th e fi rs t o c c a sio n wh e n
C h u rc h me n of a ll s h a des of O p inion met t o geth er t o
wel c ome o n e t o wh om sec t is no th ing bu t C h ris t i s a ll ,
.

Va ri ed E n g a g emen ts —T h e s ad h u th e n wen t t o
.

C a mbridge a n d a s a t Oxfo rd besides o th er meet i n g s

, ,

h e t ook o n e fo r unde rg r a du a t es a t T ri n i t y C ollege .

R et u rni n g t o Lo n do n be ful fill ed some e n g a geme nt s

fo r th e Y M C A spoke a t th e a nn u a l meet i n g of
. , . .
,

th e Lo n do n C i t y M iss io n th e Cen t r a l M i ss io n a r y C o n
,

ference fo r G rea t B ri t a i n we nt do w n t o B rig ht o n a n d

,

th e nc e on t o P a ri s t o a dd ress th e meet i n g of th e P a ri s
E v a n geli c a l M iss ion a r y S o c ie t y .

O n A p ril 1 be o ccup i ed th e p ul p i t of D r J o wett .

a t W es t mins t e r wh o i nt rodu ced h im w i th th e wo rds

, ,

I feel i t a n e x cep t ion a l h onou r t o h a v e beside me i n

my pulp i t a n a t i v e C h ris t i a n from I ndi a wh o h a s been
”
so m a n ifes t l y bles sed i n C h ris t i a n wo r k .

T h e foll ow i n g d a y Good F rid a y th e S ad h u s p oke t o

, ,

a p a cked a udie nc e of C h ri s t i a n E n de a v ou rers i n th e

M et ropol i t a n T a ber n a cle fo re v e r a sso c i a t ed w i th th e

,

n a me of C h a rl es S pu rgeo n T h e Lo n d o n D a ily C h ro n
.

i c le i n rep o r t ing th is mee t ing a sks : Ho w is i t th a t

th e S ad h u h a s so m a nifes t l y c a p t u red th e rel ig ious
w o rld wi th i n th e s h o r t sp a ce of s ix w eeks " T he
secret of th is m a n s p ower l ies i n hi s u tt er sel f a b a n
’ -

d o n me n t t o a h ig h ide a l I t i s su rel y a t oke n of

.

good th a t we of th e W es t who a re s o obses s ed wi th ,

t he m a t eri a l is t i c sp i ri t of th e a g e h a ve come i n close

c o nt a ct w i th one wh o s t a n ds fo r th e sup rem a c y of th e
”
sp i ri t u a l
.

T h e s ad h u did some wo rk i n S co t l a n d a n d I rel a n d ,

ret u r n i n g t o Lo n don fo r th e l a rge g a th eri n gs u su a ll y

h eld th ere i n M a y I n A lbert H al l t e n th ous a nd
.
1 50 A PP E ND I C E S

l is t ened t o hi m a t t he Chu r ch M is sio n a r y S ociet y s ’

meet ing a n d m a n y c ould n o t g a i n a dmi ss ion Th e .

London M is s io n a r y S o c iet y s meet in g w a s no l ess su c’

c es s fu l w h en D r G a r v ie ch a r a ct erised h i s spe a king

, .

w i t h th e w o rds W i th ou t a p a r a bl e sp a k e h e no t un t o
,

t h em H i s E a s t er n ill ust r a t i ons a n d p a r a bl es h a v e

a pe c u l i a r ch a rm fo r W es t e rn a udien c es One l i tt l e ’
.

ch ild wh o he a rd h i m s a id He t a l ks i n p a r a bles l ike

,
”
Jesu s .

T o th e S ad h u th e mo s t i n t e r e s t in g of a ll th ese meet
’
i ngs w a s th e B r i t i s h a n d Fo rei g n B ible S o c iet y s
A nnu a l M ee t in g A ll hi s C h ris t i a n l ife he h a s fel t a
.

deep debt t o t h is noble S o c iet y a n d w hen a sked t o ,

sp ea k h e m os t gl a dl y bo r e h i s w i t nes s t o th e po wer of
th e B ibl e i n b r i n gi n g m e n t o C h ris t H e mu ch a p p r e.

c i a ted bei ng m a de a n h o n o r a r y l ife member of th e

B ibl e S o c iet y .

I n r efle ct i ng on th e S adhu s p r esen ce i n S c ot l a n d D r

’
.

M a c le a n s a y s ,

I t i s a m a z i ng h o w h is t o r y repe a t s i t sel f Ch ris .

ti a n i ty goes t h rou g h a n endles s c y c le of de a th a n d

resu r r e ct ion .Lon g a g o C h r is t i a ni t y be c a me a b a rre n
field fo r in t elle c tu a l fe a t s a n d i t p eris h ed The .

ch u r ch es of C y p ri a n T er t ull i a n A u gu s t ine were s w ep t

, ,

ou t of e x is t en c e ; c a th ed r a l s w ere c on v e rt ed i nt o ba r
r a c ks
. B u t Ch r is t i a ni t y i s impe r is h a ble a n d ou t of ,

th e E a s t i t w il l c o m e a g a in T h e S ad h u is p er h a p s th e
.

th e fi rs t of th e n ew a p os t l es t o reki n dle t he fi re o n d y in g
a l t a rs .

T o c onque r th e w o rld o ne mu s t cou n t th e w o rld a s

nou gh t H e r e i s a m a n wh o a s ks no th ing of th e w o rld
.
,

a n d th e mu l ti t ud e s th rong a t h is f e e t W e h a v e fo r .

go tt en . T he c hu r ch h a s a g a i n t o le a r n th e
lesson t h a t onl y t hey wh o renou n c e t he w o rld c a n ho p e
t o c onque r it It m a v be t h a t s adhu S u n d a r S i n g h
.
152 A PP E ND I CES

th is a g e n eed s M e n simpl y fl ocked t o h e a r h im th a t

.

h e h a d s c a rcel y t ime fo r h is mea l s I h a v e j u s t received

.

a le tt e r from th e h e a d mis t res s of a p rep a r a t o r y

s c hool . S h e s a id th ere w a s a veil of l i g ht o n e v er y
’ ’
bo y s f a ce a s h e lef t th e S ad h u s meet i n g H e s a id a .

t rue wo rd wh en h e p redic t ed th a t A meric a would h a ve

n o sp i ri t u a l le a ders fift y y e a rs h e n ce if s h e kep t u p
h er p rese nt p a c e H e h a s a p r a c t ic a l mes s a ge fo r
.

”
A meric a .

I n w ri t i n g t o th e p a s t o rs of H a r t fo rd B is h op
B rew s t er g a ve o n e of t he c h ief re a so n s th e sad h u h a d
i n vi s i t i n g A meric a

T h e S ad h u i s a rem a r ka bl e a n d s i gn ifi c a nt p erso n
”
i n th e C h ris t i a n w o rld t o d a y-
h e w ri t es
,
“
H e is .

s peci a ll y a nx iou s t o cou nt er a c t th e i n fl uence of th e

m a ny S wa mis a n d o th er peopl e wh o h a ve bee n over i n
E u rope a n d A me ric a t r y i n g t o c a p t u re cer t a i n t y pe s
”
of mi n d fo r T h eosop hy H i n du M y s t ici sm e t c
, , .

O n M a y 29 th e S ad h u wa s a t Un io n T h eol og ic a l
S emin a r y i n N ew Y o rk T hen foll o wed eng a geme nt s
.

i n H a rt fo rd B a l t imo re P i tt s t o n P ri n c et o n U ni v ersi t y
, , , ,

B ri ck P resby t e r i a n C h u rc h a n d th e M a rble C olleg i a t e

,

C h u r ch (N ew Yo rk ) B rookl y n P h il a del p h i a B os t o n
, , ,

a n d o th er ci t ies On Ju ne 25 h e we nt t o S ilver B a y
.

S t ude nt s C o n fere n ce a n d s pen t fou r d a y s a dd ress i n g

’
,

eig ht h u nd red s t ude nt s a n d th ei r le a ders E a rl y i n

.

July h e wa s i n C h i c a go , a n d p a ssed o n t o Iowa K a n ,

s a s a n d o t h e r p l a ces fi n a ll y a r ri v i ng a t S a n F r a n cis co
, ,

wh ere h i s j ou r n ey a n d w o rk i n A meri c a ended .

A m a rconig r a m wa s se nt t o H o n olulu t o t ell th e

eopl e th a t th e S ad h u would be p a ss i n g th roug h e n
p
rou t e fo r A us t r a l i a a n d du ring th e few h ou rs h is
,

s t e a mer rem a i ned i n th a t p o r t h e we nt a s h o re t o

p re a c h W h il s t i n A meri c a th e s ad h u met wi th sever a l
.
 AP P EN D I C E S 1 53

of th e c h ief religious le a ders a mongs t wh om were D r

, .

F o sd i c k a n d D r R ober t S peer
. H e wa s e nt er t a i n ed
.

i n o n e pl a ce by M rs S t okes th e mo th er of h is f riend
.
,

a n d fell o w sad h u of fo rmer d a s

-
y .

On Jul y 20 th e S ad h u left A meri c a fo r A u s t r a l i a .

I n A u s tra li a —T h e s t e a mer sp en t o n e d a y a t H ono

.

lulu wh e n H a wa ii a n C h inese F il ip i n os J a p a n ese

, , , , ,

E n gl is h a n d A meric a ns g a th ered t o th e number o f fou r

h u n d red t o h e a r th e S ad h u O n A u gu s t 1 0 h e l a n d ed
.

i n S ydney a n d fo r a week h e h eld meet i n g s i n c h u rc h es

, ,

ch a pel s a n d th e Un iversi t y bu ildings A S y d n ey .

a er c o mm en ti n o n o n e meeti n s a id
3 9 ,

One could n e v er fo rget T uesd a y mo rning A u gus t ,

1 7 th wh en th e S ad h u wa lked in t o th e g rou n ds of S t
, .

’
A nd rew s C a th ed r a l t o a dd res s a meet i n g of 7 00 clerg y
a n d o t hers i n th e C h a p t er H ouse I t wa s th e n e a rest .

c on c ep t io n o n e could fo rm of wh a t ou r Lo rd mu s t
h a ve been l i ke wh en He w a lked th e s t reet s of th e H ol y
C i t y of old fo r th e v er y p r esence of th e S ad h u broug ht
,

w i t h i t a n a t mosp h ere of th ings C h ris t l ike -

a n d du r i n g th e t wen t mi nu t es h e w a s sp e a king th ere

y
wa s n o t a sound A n d n o w h e h a s go n e b a ck t o h is
.

o wn l a nd bu t e re h e we nt he lef t us a n ew vision of
,
”
th e C h ris t i a n S a viou r .

H e spen t h is th i r t y -fi rs t bi r th d a y i n A del a ide In .

M elbou rne B ishop La ngley t ook th e ch a i r a t h is meet

in g i n a C o n g reg a t ion a l C h a pel a n d th e S ad h u wa s t old
,

t h a t th is w a s t he fi rs t o c c a sio n th a t a n A n gl ic a n
B is h op h a d p resided o r t a ken p a r t i n a service i n a
nonconfo rmis t pl a ce of wo rs h ip i n th a t c i t y P eople .

of v a r y ing c reed s in a ll th e t o wn s of A us t r a l i a wh ere

h e c a lled seemed t o fo rget th ei r di ff ere nc es a n d u n i t ed ,

to gi v e h im a h e a r t y wel c ome .
154 AP P EN D I CE S

A t P er th th e S ad h u wa s fo rcibl y t a ken from th e s h ip

a nd had t o a r r a nge t o le a ve b a l a t er s t e a mer T h e
y .

meet ing s i n th e C a th ed r a l a n d Vi ct o ri a H a ll wh en th e
A r c hbis h op of P er th p res ided were v er y l a rge
, T h ere .

wa s n o bu ildin g l a r ge e n ough t o hold th e c r o wds a n d ,

overfl o w mee t i ng s h a d t o fol l o w necessi t a t ing h is ,

spe a ki n g t wi c e foll owi ng .

O n S ep tember 25 th e S ad h u l a nded i n B omb a y H is .

s h ip h a d c a l led a t C ol ombo a n d h e h a d sp oke n a t a

meet i ng t here bu t h a d decl i n ed a n u rge nt i nvi t a t io n t o
,

rem a i n fo r fu r th er w o rk .

I nd i a a n d R es t — I n sp i t e of being obliged t o spe a k

mu c h a t l a rge g a th erings th e S adhu is n o l ove r of
g re a t c ro wds so t h a t h is p opul a ri t y of l a t e r y e a rs h a s
,

been a t ri a l t o h im .P a r t l y bec a u se of t his a n d p a r t l y

bec a u se of th e need of res t he fel t oblig ed t o dis a p p oi n t
h is friends i n C ey lo n fo r t o s t a y th ere would i n evi t a bl y
,

h a ve me a n t t ou ri ng th rou g h S ou th I n di a a s well a n d ,

repe a t i n g th e e x perien c es of 1 9 1 8 He t herefo re co n

.

t i n n ed h i s j ou r n ey t o B omb a y a n d p r o c eed ed imme

,

d i a tely t o S a b a th u fo r a period of p r a y erful quie t

a n d med i t a t io n .

B efo re st a r t i n g ou t o n h is w in t er c a mp a i g n he w r o t e
mo re th a n two h u nd red lett ers du ring t he t ime h e wa s
res t in g . T he rem a i nder of t he y e a r wa s spen t i n
e v a ngel is t i c w o rk i n t o w ns a n d v ill a ges a n d conferences
a nd con v en t io ns i n t he U ni t ed P ro v i n ces Cho t a ,

N a gpu r B eng a l a n d th e P a n j a b
, .

T h e e a rl y mon t hs of 1 921 were spen t i n w ri t ing a

book e n t i t l ed M a kta b i M a si h o r T h e S c h ool o f
”
C h ri s t
. E a c h c h a p t er dea l t w i th su c h a ll imp o rt a nt -

”
m a tt e r s a s T h e M a nifes t a t i o n of th e P rese n ce o f God
“
,

“ ” “ ” “ ” “
S i n a n d S a l v a t io n , P raye r S er v i c e
, T he ,
”
C r os s a n d th e M y ster y of S u ff er i n g He a v en a n d
,
156 A PP END I C E S

wh i ch th ro w s t r a v ellers over the p recip i c e in t o a deep

v a ll ey . H u n d reds of people a n d a n im a l s h a v e lost
th ei r l i v es h ere A few miles f rom th is pl a ce is th e
.

sou rce of th e river Be a s o n e of th e five g re a t rive rs

,

of th e P a nj a b .I t is s a id th a t th e H i n du S a i nt wh o
c omp il ed th e Ved a s spe nt se v er a l y ea rs i n p r a y er a n d
medi t a t io n i n a c a v e n e a r th is sp o t .

We h a d m a n y d i ffic ul t ies in c ross in g th is P a s s on

M a y 3 0th S n o w fell a n d i t wa s v er y c old a n d w h en
.
,

w e c rossed i t wa s s n o w in g T h e e ff ec t of th e bi tt er
.

wi n d wa s p a i n ful fo r i t c a u sed o u r s ki n t o peel o ff

, ,

bu t th a nk God w e go t o v er w i th ou t a n y l os s of l ife .

S no w sl ip s a re ba d h ere On ce a wh ole v ill a ge wa s

.

bu ried a n d n o t a soul w a s s a v ed A ft er c rossi n g th e .

P a ss we a r ri v ed a t Kh a ks a r a n d p re a c h i n g i n S issu
, ,

G a n d ba l a n d i n o th er v ill a ges a n d a r rived i n K yel a n g

, ,

o ne of th e th ree M o r a v i a n mis sio n s t a t io n s n e a r T ibet .

T h ere a re ne a rl y fo r t y La d a kh i a n d T ibet a n C h ris

’

t i a n s i n th is pl a ce w h ic h is a bou t 200 miles be y o n d

,

S iml a bu t no E u rope a n mi ssion a r y s i n ce th e ‘

, Va r .

We h a d a good mee t i ng of some th i r t y people .

I n La bo u rs o ft 1 wi th m y tw o comp a n io n s o n e
.
, ,

of th em a T ibet a n C h ris t i a n n o w e nt ered T ibe t by ,

a no th er rou t e .I n Wes t ern T ibet w e fou n d good

op p o r t u n i t ies t o p re a ch th e Gospel a n d dis t ribu t ed
se v er a l h u n d reds of gosp el p o r t ions a n d t r a c t s We .

v is i t ed th i r t y se v e n t o wn s a n d v i ll a ges i n clud i n g
-
,

C hu p ra n g G n a n a ma a n d R u kh sh a k
,
A l th ou g h some .

of th e l a m a s w e r e op p osed t o u s th e v ill a ge people

h e a rd u s gl a dl y W e a lso v isi t ed some mo n a s t eries
.

a n d c a v es a n d th e mo n ks a n d h ermi t s p romised t o re a d
,

th e S c rip t u res w e g a ve th em th ou g h th ey did n o t l ike

,

u s t o t a lk fo r mo re t h a n fift ee n mi n u t es t o th em .

I n D a n g ers 0ft I t is n o t s a fe a n d e a s y t o t r a vel

.

i n T ibe t . T h ere a re n o ro a ds a t a ll a n d i t is ver y

 A PP E N D I CES 157

th i n l y p op ul a t ed cou nt r y O n e ma y go s ix t y o r se v
.

en ty miles a n d n eve r see a v ill a ge ; th e o n l people l iv

y
ing i n th ese wildernesses being G y p s ies wh o sleep i n
te nt s o r c a v es a n d l i v e by robbi n g people T h ere a re .

a lso wolves a n d w ild a nd m a n

y a ks , y h a v e l os t th ei r
,

l i v e s i n p a ss ing t h roug h th ese deser t pl a ces One d a y .

I wa s a h e a d o f my comp a n io n s wh e n I sa w a wild y a k
c ome ru n ni n g t o wa rds me Un fo r t u n a t el y th ere wa s
.

n o t ree up wh ic h I mig ht cl i mb bu t th ere wa s a l a r g e ,

ro c k n e a r by a n d I ra n a n d c l imbed up a n d sa t up o n
it. T h e fu rious be a s t beg a n t o ru n rou n d a bou t th e
rock bu t I w a s s a fe a n d I beg a n t o p r a y a n d th a n k
, ,

G o d fo r th is refuge . T h i nking a bou t th e R ock o f

A ges I h a d a wonderful pe a c e i n my h e a rt Wh e n .

my frie n ds sa w th e y a k from a d is t a n ce th ey beg a n t o

s h ou t a n d o n h e a ring th e n oise t he G y p sies c a me ou t
,

of th ei r t e nt s a nd c a ves a n d th e y a k wa s d riven a wa y
,

w i th s t ones . We decid ed t o sp e n d th e nig ht w i th th e

G y p sies ; bu t n ow th ere w a s a n o th er d a n ger fo r w ild ,

people a re mo re d a n gerous th a n wild a n im a l s T h ese .

robbers t ook ever y th i ng from u s by fo rce bu t th a nk ,

God th ey did n o t t a ke ou r l ives I s a id t o th em Yo u

.
,

h a v e t a ke n a wa y ever yth i n g from u s bu t we h a ve ,

someth i n g mo re t o g ive y o u a n d I beg a n t o p re a c h

, .

T h ey l is t ened a n d were deepl y mo v ed wh e n th e H ol y ,

S p i ri t beg a n t o wo rk in th ei r h e a r t s T h ey a sked me .

t o fo rg i v e th em fo r robbi n g us a n d g a ve u s b a ck e v er y
,

th ing th ey h a d t a ke n from u s .

“
N o w th ere w a s a n o th er di ffi cul t y T h e G y p s ies .

p rep a red tea fo r us w i th s a l t a n d bu tt er i n s t e a d of

milk a n d sug a r a n d wh e n o n e of th em beg a n t o p ou r
,

ou t fo r me i n a cup I a sked h im t o le t me wa s h th e
,

cup fi rs t I n repl y h e s a id 0 h ow c a n th i s be " Yo u

.
,

a re ou r h o n ou red gu es t we c a nn o t a llow y o u t o cl e a n se
,
’
th e cup ; I w ill do i t fo r y o u He pu t ou t h is t o n gue
.
,
1 58 A PP E ND I C E S

wh i ch wa s le a s t s ix i nch es lo n g a n d beg a n t o lick

at ,

th e inside of th e c up H is t o n gue wa s l o n g e n oug h

.

t o re a c h th e bo tt om of th e c up W h e n h e h a d fi n is h ed .

h e fill ed i t w i th tea a n d I th en w a s h ed th e c up a n d
,

th rew th e tea a w a y He wa s mu ch su rp r ised t o see

.

th is a n d my T ibet a n c omp a nio n ex pl a ined t o h im

,

th a t i t w a s th e cu s t om w i th I ndi a ns t o w a s h th ei r h a nds
a n d v es sel s befo re me a l s T h e Gy p s y repl ied th a t th is
.

w a s a v er y fool is h t hi n g bec a use in th a t c a se th e ,

s t om a c h s h ould be wa s h ed e v er y d a y .

“
We th en d r a nk ou r tea w i th samp a o r fried
b a rley flou r a n d a f t er p r a y e r we we nt t o sleep fo r w e
,

were ve r y t i r ed N e xt mo r ni ng a f t er t ell i n g th em
.
,

mo re a bou t ou r S a v iou r a n d p r a y i n g wi th th em w e ,

c o n t i n ued ou r j ou rney t o a vill a ge some th i r ty miles

”
a wa y .

A W o rld E v a n g el N o h is ret u r n from

. 2 — A ft e r
.

T ibet th e S ad h u spe nt th e w i nt er of 1 921 i n ev a n g el i s

t i c t ou rs in th e P a n j a b a n d U ni t ed P r ovi nces S ever a l .

v is i t s a l so h a d t o be m a de i n p rep a r a t io n fo r a c o n
temp l a ted vis i t wes t a g a i n a n d a l so fo r th e a ssis t a nce ,

a n d di rec t io n o f tw o y ou n g sad h us wh o w ere receivi ng

t r a ini ng .

S ad h u S u nd a r S ing h s somewh a t h u r ried j ou r n e y

’

t h rou gh E ngl a n d A meri c a a n d A u s t r a l i a i n 1 920

,

h a d th e resul t o f t a kin g h im W es t a g a in i n 1 922 .

S o e a rl y i n t he y e a r s ad h u S und a r S i ng h r e a ch ed
, ,

B omb a y t o m a ke fi n a l a r r a n gemen t s T o h is i n t e n se .

rt a n t ed h im fo r E g p t a n d P a l
j yo p a ssp o s w ere g r y
e sti n e a s w ell a s fo r E u rope a n d a n i n v i t a t ion t o be ,

t h e gues t in th ese c ou nt ries of S i r Will i a m W i ll c o c ks ,

K C M G c ompl et ed t he S ad h u s h a p p iness
. . . .
, Jus t ’
.

befo re s a il ing h e h a d t ime t o a ccep t a n i n v i t a t ion t o

spend a couple of d a y s w i th M a h atm a G a nd h i (a v isi t
of n o p ol i t i c a l s ig n i fi c a nc e ) i n th e j u n gle On J a nu .
1 60 A PP EN D I C ES

h e p re a c h ed i n th e A meric a n C h u r ch a n d a g a i n t o
C op t i c C h ri s t i a n s i n Old C a i ro He vi si t ed th e Py r a
.

mids a n d wa s t a ke n t o a ch u rc h wh ic h i s supp osed t o

,

occup y th e s i t e of th e h ouse w h ere Jesu s li v ed a ft er th e

flig ht i nt o E g y p t .

T h e foll ow i n g S und a y th e s ad h u p re a c h ed i n M a r
s eilles a n d from th e nc e pus h ed o n t o S wi t zerl a n d
, to ,

u nder t a ke th e mos t s t re n uous t ou r of h is l ife .

I n S wi tz e rl a n d — T h e S ad h u re a c h ed La us an n e o n
Febru a r y 27 a n d o n th e foll o w i n g d a y comme n c ed h i s
,

w o rk a t a t own c a lled B ie nn e w h ere a l a rge mee t i n g

,

wa s h eld B u t i n p oi nt of n umbers th i s wa s ecl ip sed '

a t a n ope n a i r mee t i n g a t T a v a nn es th e n ex t d a
y .

People c a me from a ll th e v ill a ges rou nd o v er th ree ,

th ou s a nd of th em M a n y cl imbed t rees t o ge t a bett er

.

p osi t ion a n d a t th e c l ose some of th em s a id

, T h is ,
”
is a n ew rel igion th oug h i t i s a bou t th e s a me S a vi ou r
, .

T h e d a y follo w ing s n ow beg a n t o f all bu t a p p a re nt l y

th is i n n o wa y h i ndered th e people wh o g a th ered from ,

fa r a n d n e a r i n a g re a t c ro wd a t a vil l a ge u p a mo n g st
‘

th e s n owy mou nt a ins i n o rde r t o h e a r th e Old S t o r y

,

told a g a i n i n a qui t e n ew wa y .

I n Gene v a S ad h u S u nd a r S ing h p re a c h ed t wice in

R efo rm a t io n H a ll wh e r e t h e Le a gue of N a t io n s h a d
held i t s mee t i n gs a n d a l th oug h th is wa s a l a rge bu ild
,

i n g t hous a nds c a me a n d m a n y h a d t o be t u rned a wa y .

H e a lso sp oke a t a mee t ing speci a ll y fo r mi ni s t ers

w h e n o v e r t wo h und red p r e a ch ers g a th ered t o h e a r
hi m . F rom G ene v a h e p a ssed t o N euc h a t el wh e r e i t ,

w a s es t im a t ed t e n th ou s a nd c a me t o h e a r h is mess a ge
a nd m a n y c o nvers io ns a p pe a r t o h a v e t a ke n pl a ce .

A f t er v isi t in g o th er t owns h e th en en t ered Germ a n

S w i tz erl a nd a nd p re a c h ed i n B a sle B er n e T h u n Z u ric h
, , , , ,

S t G a ll a n d o th er ci t ies a n d o n M a rc h 29 h e com
.
,

l eted a h e a v y p rog r a mme of w o rk i n th a t cou nt r y

p .
 A PP EN D I C ES 1 61

I n G e rm a n y — P a ssi n g from S w i t zerl a nd i n t o Ge r

.

ma n v th e 8 51t w ro t e Y es t erd a y I w e n t t o Wi tt e n
°

berg th e C r a dle of th e R efo rm a t ion I sa w th e h ouse in

, .

wh i ch M a r t i n Lu th e r u sed t o l i v e a n d th e C h u r ch w h ere
,

he u sed t o p re a c h O n th e doo r of th e C h u r ch h e
.

w ro t e n i n e t y —
fiv e a r t icles a bou t th e R efo rm a t ion a n d ,

h e i s bu ried i n th e s a me o ld C h u r ch T hi s e v enin g I
.

”
a m spe a ki ng i n th e C h u r ch H e a l so sp oke t o the
.

th eologi c a l s t ude nt s a n d p rofes so rs i n th a t a n cie nt

t ow n.

I n H a lle h e met rep resen t a t i v es of a ll th e g re a t mis

sio n a r
y bod ies i n Germ a n y a t a C o n ference a n d s p oke
t o th em a n d a t Leipzig a mo n g s t o th er meet i n g s h e
,

p re a c h ed i n th e Un i v ers i t y t o th e p rofesso rs a n d s t u
den t s A t H a mbu rg Berl i n K iel a n d o th er ci t ies
.
, ,

h e p re a c h ed a n d h a d sc a r c el y t ime t o w ri t e e v e n mos t
,

n e c ess a r y l e tt ers bu t h e des c ribed th e meet i n gs a s

,
”
v er y l a rge a n d blessed .

I n S wed en — O u A p ril 1 3 th h e re a c h ed T y ringe t o

c omme nc e a mo nth of h a rd t r a v elling a n d con t i n u ous
w o r k wh i c h a g a i n c o v e r ed a l a rge p rog r a mme fo r
,

c i t i es a n d vill a ges a ll o v e r th e c ou nt r y O n th e wa v .

th i th e r h e spen t a s h o r t t ime a t Copen h a ge n a n d

bre a kf a s t ed w i th th e B is h op th ere A ft er spea k .

ing i n l a rge m eet ings i n Hels ingbo rg Lu nd a n d o th er ,

pl a ces th e S ad h u we nt t o U p s a l a wh ere h e w a s th e
g ues t of th e A rc h bi s h op wh o a l so t r a nsl a t ed fo r h im
,

i n th e C a th ed r a l Un i v er s i t y a n d el sewh e re
,
J us t be .

fo re th e a r ri v a l of th e S il d h u th e A r ch bis h op of
Up s a l a h a d c omplet ed w ri t in g a book c a lled Lu th er
”
a nd S u nd a r S ing h a t itle th a t c a ll ed fo rth s ome
,

a s t onis h men t a mong th e people of th e c oun t r

y th a t t he
n a me of S u nd a r S i n g h s h ould be coupl ed w i th th a t of
o ne wh om a ll S wedes revere n ce in a h ig h deg ree S ome .

p reg n a nt rem a r ks t a ke n from a n a r t i cle by th e A rc h

1 62 A PP E N D I CE S

bis h op wri tt en fo r th e I n te rna ti o n a l R evi ew o f M i s

si o n s o n C h ris t i a n M y s t i ci sm i n a n I n di a n S oul ”
a p pe a r i n th e end of t hi s book .

P a s s ing from th e c i t y of S t ock h olm th e (Sadhu v is i t ed

m a n y sm a ller pl a ces .I a m sp e a kin g i n some of th e
be a u t iful v ill a ges of th is c oun t r y a n d p eopl e c ome i n
,
”
f rom se v en t y miles t o th e meet ing s Le tt e r s re c ei v ed
.

from th ose p r esen t a t th ose g a th e r i ng s t ell of h o w

s peci a l t r a ins h a d t o be ru n t o c a r r y th e nu mbers of
p eo p le a n x iou s t o h e a r h im t o th e pl a ces wh ere h e w a s
p re a ch i ng a n d o n e w r i t er s a y s : W e h a v e ne v er seen
,
”
su ch t imes befo re .B o th in S t o c kh olm a n d sm a l ler
t o w ns th e l a rges t bu ildings c ould no t h old th e c ro wds ,

a n d oft en peopl e a r ri v ed some h ou rs befo re h a nd a n d

s t ood w a i t in g p a t ien t l y o c c a sion a ll y in ba d we a th er

, ,

u n t il th e meet ing s t ook p l a c e .

B o th i n S wi tz e r l a nd a n d S wed e n g re a t numbe r s wh o
h a d g i v en God n o p a rt i n t hei r l i v es u nder t he S ad h u s
,
’

minis t r y su r rend e r ed th emsel v es t o C h ris t a n d no t o n l y ,

w a s th ere a re v i v a l of s p i r i t u a l l ife a mongs t c a reles s

p e ople bu t f r es h f a i th w a s bo rn i n th e he a rt s of m a n y
,

a s t o th e
p o w er of th e Gospel t o m ee t th e need s of a ll
n a t i ons . T hi s r esul t ed i n m a n y g i v i ng c o n t ribu t ions
t o w a rds miss ion a r y w o r k wh o h a d d ropp ed doin g so ,

a n d o t he r s he a rd th e di v i ne c a l l t o c a r r y t he gospel

t o soul s i n o t h e r l a nds w h e r e C h r is t i s l i tt le know n .

T h e R u ss i a n C omt esse de Ko r ff re c o r d s th a t th e
S ai d h u s p o w e rful mess a ges whi c h w e h a d th e p ri v il eg e
’
,

to h e a r h a v e been t r a nsl a t ed i n t o R uss i a n a n d bles s ed

, ,

t o m a n y W e p r a y fo r him e v er y d a y a n d we s h a l l
.
,

fol l o w hi m on ou r kn ees e v er ywh e r e .

I n N o r wa y D en ma rk a nd Ho lla n d — F rom S weden

,
.

th e S 51t w ent on t o N o r w a y but a s t he t ime w a s ge t

,

t i ng s h o rt h e wa s onl y a b l e t o g i v e ten d a y s t o t h a t
c oun t r y He w en t t o Hu r d a l some s i xt y miles no r t h
.
,
1 64 A PP E ND I C E S

H e th e n p a ss ed o n t o Li selu n d , Ode n se , A a r h us ,

Her n i n g a n d T i n gle v A t a pl a ce c a lled S l a gel se th e

.

c ro wds were so g rea t th a t a meet i n g h ad t o t a ke pl a ce

i n a l a rge g a rde n wh ere h u nd reds of people s t o od fo r
,

h ou rs befo re th e c omme n ceme nt Ma n y occu p ied th e .

t rees a n d s a t o n th e roofs of su r rou ndi n g h ouses a n d ,

wh ils t th e S ad h u bo re wi t nes s t o th e p owe r of C h r i s t

to s a ve me n g ivi n g h i s o wn experie n ce s i n t es t i mo n y
, ,

t e a rs rolled u nh e eded dow n th e f a ces of s co res of th ose

wh o h e a rd .

T h e s a me th i ng h a p pe n ed a t N ybo rg th e D a nis h ,

Keswick wh en deep w a ves of s i le nt emo t io n swep t over

,

t h e a s sembl ed c ro wds i n t oke n of th ei r respo n se t o th e

perso n a l wi tn es s of o n e wh o l oves h is Lo rd a bove a ll
el se .

On J u n e 2 th ere wa s a n imme n se ope n a i r meet i n g

’
a t Her n i n g wh i c h vi v idl y re c a l l ed t o th e S ad h u s mi n d
,

th e S y r i a n C o n v en t ion i n N o r th T r a v a n co re a t wh ic h
h e h a d sp oken fou r y e a rs befo re M o re th a n .

people f r om fa r a n d ne a r a mids t a g re a t sil e n ce re

c ei v ed th e mes s a ge of God wh ic h fell on m a n y h e a r t
,

p rep a red by H is H ol y S p i ri t t o receive i t T he l a s t .

meet i ng i n D e nm a rk wa s a t T i n glev, wh ere h e spok

to over people a n d h ere a s i n m a n y o th er p l a ces
, , ,

numbers bo re wi tn es s t o th e sp i ri t u a l bl essi n g th ey h a d
received .

O n June 5 th e S ad h u left fo r H oll a nd a n d p a s si n g , ,

th rou g h H a mbu rg wa s a se c o n d t ime e nt er t a i n ed by

,

F r a u B a uer a l a d y of th e R o y a l H ouse of A u s t ri a a n d
,

a n e a r n es t C h ris t i a n I n H oll a nd B a ro n Vo n B o etz l a er

.

no t onl y en t er t a ined h im bu t a l so m a de a r r a ngeme nt s

,

fo r h i s wo r k M eetings were h eld i n th e p rett y old

.

to w n of D e B il t in G ro n i n ge n A r nh eim Lu n d e ren
, , , ,

R o tt e rd a m ,T h e H a gue a n d A ms t erd a m a n d a t
, ,
 A PP E ND I C ES 1 65

Ut re cht th e s t ude nt s of fou r U n i v ers i t ies met fo r a

spe c i a l g a th eri n g t o h ea r h im .

I n J o u rney i n g s Often — Wh e n th e s ad h u l a n ded i n

E ngl a n d i t w a s a p p a re nt t o th e few old fr ie n ds w h o
sa w h im th a t h e wa s u tt erl
y e xh a u s t ed n er v ousl y a n d
p hy s i c a ll y Ha d i t bee n p os s ible fo r h im t o le a v e
.

i mmedi a t el y fo r I n di a a t th a t t ime i t would h a ve bee n

bett er fo r h is o wn s a ke bu t h e fel t obli ged t o fu lfil a
,

p romise t o spe a k a t th e K es wick Con v e nt io n a n d th e ,

t ime of wa i t i n g t ried h im M a n y i nvi t a t i o n s t o s t a y

.

wi th frie n ds w ere de c l i n ed O n e su c h in v i t a t io n from

.

a lad
y wh o h a d ne v er seen h im t ou c h ed th e S ad h u s
’
,

h e a r t S h e wa s a g re a t su ff ere r h erself a n d fou n d i t

.

h a rd t o mo v e a bro a d bu t h e a ri n g th a t h e w a s v er y
,

t i r ed a n d su ff eri n g from h is th ro a t sh e n o t o nl y o ff ered

,

h im wh a t wou ld h a v e been th e quiet es t p ossible pl a ce

of ret i reme nt bu t h ersel f u n der t ook a j ou rne y of 3 60
,

m i l e s t o see wh eth er a sp e c i a l is t o r a n y o th er h el p wa s
r equi red . T h e e x pe n se of th e l ong j ou r n e y a n d th e
p a i n ful f a t igue w e r e gl a dl y bo r n e if o nl y s h e mig ht do
s ome th i n g fo r h im .

A s week su c ceeded week i t be c a me mo re a pp a re nt

th a t s i x mon th s i n th e Wes t of suc h c on t i n uous wo r k
h a d bee n t oo g re a t a ta x in m a n y w a y s T h e cos t of
.

doi ng th is wo rk a n d of l i v i n g th i s l ife fo r so l o n g c a n
h a rdl y be re a l is ed by th ose fo r wh om i t wa s do n e .

P eople wh o h a v e come u n der th e person a l i n fl uence of

the s ad h u w i ll unders t a nd th a t a tmo sp h e re me a ns mu ch
t o a ma n who is a l w a y s wo rk i ng a t h ig h p res su re in
t he spi ri t u a l re a lm . Fo r mo re th a n six t ee n y e a rs th e
8 51t h a s bee n a c c us t omed t o a freedom w i th no
bou nds of t ime o r pl a ce He l o v es th e op en a i r by
.

n ig ht a n d th e open sp a c es by d a y wh ere w i th ou t a n y
,

ey e t o w a t c h h e c a n be a l one wi th h is L o rd I n su ch
.

a n a t mosp h e re h e l i v es a n d g a th ers t o h imsel f th ose

1 66 A PP EN D I C E S

r e s e r v es of s t r eng t h a n d p ea c e wh i c h c h a r a ct erise h i m .

I n th e rus h a n d h u r r y of th e Wes t n o su ch pe r iods

of quiet of e v en th e sho rt est du r a t i on were e v e r
a ff o rd ed h im . La u n c h ed in t o o n e c ou nt r y a ft er a n
o t h er where dull s kies blo tt ed ou t th e sun a n d rel i giou s ,

w o rk a lmos t t ook on th e a sp e ct of un c ea sin g bu sin e s s ;

th e c a s t — i ron t y r a nn y of a rr a ngemen t s a n d h ou rs h eld
h i m l i ke a fo r e s t bi rd i mp r is oned in a n a t m osp h e r e t h a t
su ff o c a t ed a n d sa p ped hi s v i t a li t y .

In a qu iet home i n th e I sle of W ig ht be som ewh a t

r e c o v e r ed h i s s e r e n i t y bu t e v en th e r e h e c ould no t be
,

p re v a iled up on to go a bro a d fo r e x e rc ise He w en t .

a wa t o S ou th W les fo r w eek —end of p re a ch ing a n d

y a a ,

e v en t u a ll l ef t fo r K es w i c k C on v en t ion t o w a r ds th e
y
m i ddle of J ul y .

I n E n g la n d . T h e S adhu o n l y e merged f rom h i s

se c lusion on tw o o c c a sions n a mel y t o s p e a k a t t he ,

K es wi c k C on v en t ion on Jul y 1 9—22 a n d t o fulfil a ,

”
long o v erdue p r omise t o v isi t P o r t h i n S ou th W a l es .

A S u nd a y w i th th ree good m eet ings ful fill ed th is p r o m

i s e t o th e W el sh p eopl e a n d th e S adhu en j o y ed h i s
,

brief m inis t r y a mong t h em .

A t K e s w i c k h e sp oke s e v e r a l t imes F o r th e .

ben efi t of m a n y wh o c ould no t be p r esen t a s well ,

fo r t hose wh o h a d t h a t p r i v ilege his se rmon is

rep rodu c ed fu r t h e r o n A t a meet i n g f o r minis t e r s
.

th e S ad h u sp o ke o n S oul w i nni n g -
wh en h e m a d e a,

s i gnifi c a n t r em a rk .

He r em i n d ed h i s h ea r ers th a t w h en o u r Lo rd c al l ed c erta i n
o f Hi s d i s c i p l es th e y w e r e fi s h e r m en a n d He tu rn ed th e m i n to
,

fi s h ers o f m e n . B u t a f ter th e c r u c ifi xi o n th e y we n t ba c k to
th e ir o l d c a l l i n g
, a n d w h en Ch r i s t f o u n d th em a g a i n th e y h ad
c e a se d to be fi sh ers o f m en an d w er e o n c e m o r e fi sh e rm en
,
.

A n d s o m e m i n i ste rs to da y i n s tead o f be i n g fi s h e rs o f m en a re
-

”
m er el y fi sh erm em

M u c h blessin g fol lo wed h is wo r k . M a n y c onse c r a t ed

1 68 A PP EN D I C E S

sad h u , bo th i n h i s o wn a n d o th er cou nt ries Lo n g .

befo re h i s n a me w a s kno wn be y o n d th e bo rders of

I n di a I n di a n s h a d t a ken u p th e t a sk of wri t i ng a bou t
,

h im . H e so fa r fu lfilled th e I ndi a n ide a l of a C h ris t i a n

h ol y ma n th a t mu ch of wh a t wa s w ri tt e n i n o n e ver
n a c u la r wa s immed i a t el
y t r a n sl a t ed in t o o th ers a nd
wa s re a d w i t h a v idi t y a ll over I n di a .

A s h e be c a m e be tt er k n o w n i n I ndi a h is me th od of
,

l ife a n d wo rk l a id h im ope n t o c ri t icism , c h iefly

a mo n s t fo reig ners ; a c ri t i cism n o t a lw a y s kindl y
g ,

a n d j udged b
y h is subseque nt h is t o r y o n e th a t s h o wed
a l a ck of per c ep t io n a n d u n ders t a n di n g of I n di a n l ife

a n d ide a l s T h e sad h u a ccep t ed su c h c ri t icism wi th

.

th e wo rds I f people d id no t sa y th i n g s a g a i n s t me ,

I s h ould know th ere i s someth ing seriousl y wro n g .

T h e m a r v ellous i n h is l ife a l wa y s h a d i t s e a r n est

b el i evers wh o l ooked fo r mi r a c les a n d t ook th em a s
,

fres h a n d i ndis pu t a bl e e v i dence of h is bei n g a ma n

”
c a lled of G od wh il s t o th e r s s c a rcel y kn ew wh a t t o
,

th in k a n d th us divi sion of op i n ion wa s evok ed

, Th e .

R ev C W E mme tt of R idley H a ll O x fo rd discu ssed i n

. . .
, ,

th e J a n u a r y numbe r of Hi bber t J o u rn a l of 1 921 w h a t

”
he t e rms T h e M i r a cles of s ad h u S u n d a r S i n g h de a l ,

ing c h iefl y w i th th ose m y s t erious del ive r a n ces wh i ch

h a v e a g a i n a n d a g a i n been t he S ad h u s experie n ces i n
’

t imes of g re a t peril I n th ese e v e nt s M r E mmett

. .

s ees a c h oi c e between t wo w a y s i n wh i c h G o d c a n be
th oug ht of a s wo rki ng D oes H e h elp o r p ro t ec t H is
.

serva nt s by sendin g a n a n gel o r by th e oper a t io n

’

of H is S p i ri t o n th e h e a r t of m en " T h e speci a l i nt er
pos i t io n o f a supern a t u r a l a ge n c y ma y a t fi rs t s ig ht
seem a tt r a ct ive t o s ome bu t i s i t n o t a fa r g r a n de r
,

con cep t io n t o t hink of th e S p i ri t of G o d a s wo rki n g

th rou g h t he person a l i t y of su ch a one a s th e s ad h u ,

a n d s o d r a wi n g ou t t h e respo n se a n d th e l a t e nt powers
 A PP E N D I S

of good i n h i s fell o men

w- " W e do bel ieve th a t
‘
th ere is S ome On e “
T he D i v i ne S p i ri t p a ss
in g i n t o h ol y sou l s m a k et h th em fr i ends of God a n d
p r op hets a n d w o r ki ng w i t hin the l imi t s of t h a t mi n d
,

of ma n wh i ch is Hi s o wn c re a t ion is a ble t o th r ill a n d

,

t ou c h t hem w i th th e imm ed i a t e c onsciou sness of th e

”
p resen c e of th e B ey ond th a t i s wi th i n .

B u t wi t h reg a rd t o mi r a cle s a t t ribu t ed t o t he S adhu s ’

o wn doing M r E mmett s a y s no th in g
. T h e S ad h u .

h imsel f s a y s no th ing a l t hou gh h e does no t t rouble t o

,

den y th ei r p os s ibil i t y . B u t f r equen t l y h e h a s bo rn e

wi t nes s t o th e f a c t th a t t he r e is no p o wer i n th ese
”
ha n ds , a n d simpl y cl a i m s t h a t th e p o we r of C h ri s t in

a ns w e r to p r a y er is th e onl y mi ra c l e (S ee C a non .

”
S t r e e ter s boo k T h e S adhu
’ “
p , .

Ye a rs a g o it b e c a m e c le a r to th e s adhu t h a t mi r a
”
c l es d e t r a ct ed fro m i n s t e a d o f a id ing his g ospel
mes s a g e . Hen c e in 1 91 8 when h e wa s m a ki ng h is
,

g re a t t ou r th rou g h th e S ou t h of I nd i a he t ook the ,

u t mos t c a r e t o p r e v en t a dd i n g fuel to a fire wh ose

bu r nin g c ould ser v e no t rue pu r p ose .

H is v is i t s to C h in a J a p a n a n d l a t e r t o th e W est
,

c a u s ed t he sto r y of hi s l ife w r it t en by di ff eren t people

,

t o be re a d a ll o v e r th e ci v il is ed wo r ld H is sermon s .

i n E ng l i sh a n d ot h e r l a n gu a ges a p pe a r ed in bo o kl e t
fo rm a n d m a g a z ines i n m a n y c oun t r ies d is c ussed h im
,

from a ll p oin t s of v iew B u t t h rou g h good rep o rt

.

a n d il l th e S adhu c a lm l y p a ssed on h is wa y th e wa y ,

of God ; u n t roubled be c a use h e f e a r ed n o ma n a n d

,

k n ew in W h om he h a d bel ie v ed .

W h e n h e m a de h i s fi rs t v is it W est i n 1 920 m a n v ,

m inds of a compl etel y di ff e r ent t y pe from h is o wn

were t u r ned t o th e c ontempl a tion a n d di s c us sion of
th e m a n h i s e x pe r ien c es me t h ods of t hou g ht a n d w o rk
, , ,

a n d th e p rob a ble influe nc e of hi s uniqu e person a l it y

1 70 A PP E ND I C E S

an d t e a c h ing in E a s t a n d W es t A s C h ri s t i a ni t y
.

c a me ou t of th e E a s t i t is n a t u r a l t h a t m a n y e a r n est
,

C h ris t i a ns i n wes t ern l a nd s s hould look a g a i n t o th e

E a s t fo r th a t n ew s t re a m of di v ine l ife wh ose fl o w
, ,

s h ould bring a t rue re v iv a l of rel i g ion t o t hos e m y r i a ds

u pon wh om th e G re a t W a r h a s c a s t i t s bl a ck m a n t l e
of fo r get ful nes s of G od .

T h e C h u r ch of th e W es t bles ed wi th a n e a rl y v is io n
,

of th e S a v iou r of th e wo r ld h a s y et t o mou r n i t s
,

i n a bil i t y t o en t i r el y mee t th e n eed s of t hose fo r wh om

H e d ied . T h e s imp le Gospel p a ss i ng t h rou g h t he
,

minds of m en th roughou t th e a ges h a s t a ke n o n t he

,

colou r of th ose minds a n d h a s t h us become les s p o t en t

,

fo r i t s g re a t t a sk ; fo r n o t i n c e r emoni a l a p pe a l i n g t o
th e senses no r y et i n m igh t y o r g a ni z a t io n s is th e n ew
bi r th found . T h e a cc r et ions of th e c entu r ies s a n c
ti o n ed by t ime c a n o ff er onl y a sembl a n ce of t he l ife
wh i c h i s i n C h ris t J e sus a n d no o t her l ife c a n s a t isfy
,
.

”
T h e c ry i s S h o w m e a m a n l ike C h ri s t A S wed ish
.

A rc h bishop p oin t s t o S u nd a r S in g h a n d s a y s : T he
Gospel h a s n o t u nde r gone a n y c h a nge in him
I n th e h is t o r y of re l i g ion S u nd a 1 is th e fi rs t to s ho w
.

th e w orld h o w t he G ospel of Jesus Ch ris t i s r e fle c t ed

”
i n u nch a ng ed pu ri t y i n a n I ndi a n soul .

T o h im n o th ing else m a tt ers th a n t he new c re a tu r e

”
i n C h ri s t Jesu s . H e h a s no in t ere st i n H igh C h u r c h
o r Lo w ; N o nconfo rmi t y i n i t s m a n y fo rm s m a kes n o
”
a p pe a l t o h im ; indeed i t w ould be h e a v en on e a r t h ,

h e t ell s us if w e h a d not go t t hese t h in g s A n d a s

, .

m e n w a tch h im s t ud y h im w r i t e a bou t him th e y a ll

, , ,

a g ree th a t th roug h a pu re c h a nnel men c a n be a n d

a re being s t i r r ed t o a l ife t h a t is l ife indeed .

” a
C h ris t i a ni t y i s imperis h a ble s y s a no t her w ri t er
, ,

a n d ou t of t he E a s t i t w ill c o m e a g a i n T he s adhu
.